Professional portfolios used by Canadian occupational therapists: How can they be improved?
Professional portfolios are widely used in continuing professional development (CPD), despite limited evidence of their effectiveness for improving practice and professional competence. Occupational therapy regulatory organizations in Canada have implemented professional portfolios as tools that s...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Western Michigan University
2016-07-01
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Series: | Open Journal of Occupational Therapy |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1280&context=ojot |
Summary: | Professional portfolios are widely used in continuing professional development (CPD), despite limited
evidence of their effectiveness for improving practice and professional competence. Occupational therapy
regulatory organizations in Canada have implemented professional portfolios as tools that support
engagement in CPD. To advance research and practice on the use of portfolios, we conducted a critical
analysis of their format, content, and embedded learning process. This paper aims to describe and compare
the portfolios’ characteristics when they are used as a tool to facilitate engagement in CPD. A document
review approach was used to analyze documents describing continuing competence programs and portfolios
and to compare their characteristics. Data was retrieved from documents using a coding scheme and content
was compared to the literature. In Canada, seven out of 10 regulatory organizations have implemented a
portfolio. They are similar in their content and proposed self-directed learning approach. Their strength is that
they all promote self-assessment, reflection, and development of a CPD plan. However, the tools provided can
be improved to help engage in more genuine reflection and integration of learning into practice. Our review of
the content, tools, and proposed learning process of portfolios revealed avenues for improvement and future
research.
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ISSN: | 2168-6408 2168-6408 |