Patrick Viney, Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University
PebblePad was introduced at the commencement of all Degree Apprenticeships within the Newcastle Business School. Custom PebblePad templates were used for for apprentices to record reflections on workplace learning, off the-job training and meetings. A workbook was used to collect these templates and a second workbook supported the End Point Assessment (EPA) portfolio. Towards the end of the 2018/19 academic year the PebblePad workbook had been used over a two-year period and the first cohort had just been introduced to their EPA workbook. It was an ideal time to reflect upon the progress so far and make any changes that were necessary to improve the way that PebblePad was being used. What was initially expected to be a few minor changes to the workbook developed into a complete philosophical shift in the way in which PebblePad is used. In early 2019 PebblePad began to describe itself as a learning journey platform rather than a portfolio platform and this change in thinking is echoed in that description. This case study outlines the new approach and improvements made to the original resources and workflow.
The above case study is just one of twenty-five brilliant examples from our 2020 'Charting new courses in learning and teaching' conference. With case studies spanning degree apprenticeships, clinical assessment, interprofessional education, showcase portfolios, and many other contexts and disciplines, they are real stories of trailblazing innovation. If you'd like to download all 25 exemplars of pedagogical goodness, click the link below.