An Evaluation of an Integrated e-Portfolio Model: The Case of Bahrain Teachers' College

An important practice implemented since 2008 at the only teachers' college in the Kingdom of Bahrain-the Bahrain Teachers' College (BTC)- is e-portfolio assessment. Despite serious efforts to ensure effective implementation of e-portfolio assessment at BTC since its launching, there continued to be over the years several challenges and obstacles, mainly in the form of faculty and students' confusion, that needed to be overcome. This paper, as a result, highlights some of these challenges, it also investigates, through the analysis of a multiplicity of data sources, the impact of an integrated e-portfolio model (IEM), which was originally introduced at BTC in 2012, to help ensure a more successful and effective e-portfolio experience. This investigation is taken even further in the form of an evaluation of IEM on the basis of the well-informed 4 E-Model of Collis & Moonen. The results of the IEM overall evaluation indicated some improvement mainly in the form of stronger awareness and a more accepting culture of e-portfolios, still, however, they also pointed to continuing flaws in e-portfolio implementation and to a need for more focused training of stakeholders.