Dr. Leeann Waddington, Associate Vice President Teaching and Learning from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada on ‘Making magic happen with ePortfolios – an advancement plan.’ This recording is from our 2023 MiniBash community event which was hosted in Birmingham, England. Videos are for educational personnel only and require a live educational email to watch. You can read a small snippet of the video transcript below.
Elevating ePortfolios: an advancement plan shares how a strategic, values‑led approach can drive meaningful adoption of ePortfolios across an institution. In this talk, Dr. Leeann Waddington, Associate Vice President Teaching and Learning at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Canada), reflects on the design and rollout of KPU’s ePortfolio advancement initiative.
Drawing on appreciative inquiry and change‑management principles, Leeann explains how building a strong value proposition was central to engaging faculty, particularly during and after the disruption of the pandemic. The session explores how focusing on why ePortfolios matter — rather than mandating tool use — helped staff see relevance to their own teaching identities, assessment goals, accreditation needs, and institutional priorities.
The talk shares practical strategies including soft launches, working with early adopters, champion programmes with time‑release, and hands‑on support to reduce barriers to experimentation. Through real examples, Leeann demonstrates how ePortfolios can support authentic assessment, reflective learning, accreditation evidence, research connections, and inclusive, student‑centred practice.
The session concludes with a call to see ePortfolios not just as a technology, but as an enabler of cultural change — supporting authenticity, belonging, and meaningful learning journeys for both students and educators.
This talk took place at the studio, Birmingham in June 2023.