Presentation by Dr Anne Qualter (University of Liverpool) and Dr John Couperthwaite (PebblePad) for a Centre for Recording Achievement (CRA) webinar. Video recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCSzY56kL2s&feature=youtu.be

1. Supporting Students through ePortfolios to
HEAR: a technical innovation in integrating
systems
Dr Anne Qualter, Director of Academic Development, University of Liverpool
Dr John Couperthwaite - Implementation Consultant, PebblePad
The HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) is an electronic
document, prepared, validated and signed off by a higher education
institution, which provides a record of a student’s achievement
during their time in higher education

2. Overview
• Introduction to ‘My Liverpool’
• The processes underpinning ‘My Liverpool’
• The technical solution developed with PebblePad
• Populating The HEAR
• Lessons learned

3. Introduction to My Liverpool
Three phase programme:
Phase 1
• Web-based signposting resource that pulls together co- and extra-
curricular activities that the University/Guild of Students has to offer.
• For current and prospective students (UG,PGR &PGT), as well as alumni.
Phase 2
• Activity and Skills Repository in e-portfolio (Pebble Pad) to support the
enhancement of the student experience and future employability by
encouraging students to recognise the range of activities they are involved
with and to reflect on the skills developed through participation in such
activities.
Phase 3
• ‘Selected’ information from the skills folders in My Liverpool , as chosen by
the students, will populate co- and extra- curricular information part of
section 6.1 of the University of Liverpool HEAR.

4. My Liverpool – Phase 1
www.liv.ac.uk/my-liverpool

5. • as a basis for reviewing progress and planning future activities,
whether individually or with support from a tutor;
• to support student engagement in opportunities beyond the
curriculum;
• as an aide memoire for students in making applications which may
be needed before the final award is made, e.g. for sandwich
placements and internships; permanent employment; further study or
training opportunities;
• by employers and tutors to verify statements made by the student
(subject to the appropriate permissions).
Some uses of the HEAR
The Higher Education Academy, http://www.hear.ac.uk/about

6. Project Overview
The University of Liverpool plan to introduce the
e- HEAR to all undergraduate students in 2015/16. Project
led by Trish Lunt and Anne Qualter.
PebblePad objectives:
1. Enable students to be able to reflect on University
Verified Activities (UVA’s);
2. Enable students to create their own activities;
- reviewed by Academic Advisors;
- verified by external assessors, if required
3. To enable students to store artifacts and reflections on
other activities to support CV/applications

7. My Liverpool – Phases 2 and 3
Phase 2 – Recognition of co- and extra- curricular activities and
reflection on skills developed from participation
• Each student will have Activity/Skills Folder in PebblePad
• Two routes to populate the activity folders
• Information downloaded from activity owners (verified protocols); optional
reflective skills account (Skills account based on ‘core’ skills list – CBI
employability skills, Digital Literacies and some elements of RDF
framework)
• Student written protocols - written by students, supported by evidence from
external referee (if appropriate) and reflective skills account
Phase 3 - Population of section 6.1 of HEAR with activities from
Activity Folders
• HEAR can be amended/updated as required to support specific needs
• Students choose which activities to add to section 6.1

8. Student Folder
(Flourish)
---------------------
Part 1
Verified activities
Activity Description
Skills Record
University Verified Protocols
– route to Interim and Final HEAR
Interim
HEAR
Interim
HEAR
Interim
HEAR
Final
(graduation)
HEAR
Staging
Tables
Student engages with activity
(e.g. Secretary Basketball team)
University Approved Protocol
(substantial engagement)
Record kept by activity owner
(Department, Guild)
Downloaded to student folder

9. Student Written Protocols
– route to Interim and Final HEAR
Student guidance
Review skills list
Student completes
protocol template
Complete skills
reflection
Student Folder
------------------
Part 2
Awaiting verification
Activity Description
Skills
record/reflection
(compulsory)
Add details/email of
external verifier as
necessary
Updated Student
Folder
--------------------
Part 1
Verified activities
Activity
Description
Skills Record
(optional)
-------------------
Activity
description (now
approved)
Skills record
Verified and
confirmed by
Academic
Advisor
Interim
HEAR
Interim
HEAR
Interim
HEAR
Final
(graduation)
HEAR
Staging
Tables

10. EMPLOYER EMPLOYER EMPLOYER
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS TEMP SUMMER
JOBS, VOLUNTARY BODIES, CHARITIES
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
CAREER
STUDENT
REPRESENTATION
CHAIR OF
SOCIETY
TRAINING
COURSE
ELECTED TO
STUDENT UNION
OFFICIAL SUMMER
WORK PLACEMENT
UNIVERSITY-APPROVED
VOLUNTEERING
EXTRA LANGUAGE
CLASSES
EXAMS GROUP PROJECT ACADEMIC PRIZE FIELD TRIP DISSERTATION EXAMS
NEW
STUDENT
STUDENT’S ACADEMIC PROGRESS
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 END OF YEAR 3
ONLINE
RECRUITMENT
SITE
ONLINE
RECRUITMENT
SITE
GRADUATION !
The Challenge
External
verifier
External
verifier
External
verifier
STUDENT’S EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
SUMMER PLACEMENT

11. University
Of Liverpool Student Academic Advisor External Verifier
UVA +
SIS /
HEAR
PEBBLEPAD UVA +
UVA
Activity
Activity
Activity
Check
+ reflection
+ reflection
+ reflection
Verify
VerifyVerify
Check
VerifyVerify
The Solution

12. PebblePad
Pebble+ ATLAS
assessment system
(the institutional space)
The personal learning and assessment system
personal learning space
personal tutoring /mentoring (guided
development space)
Flourish
How PebblePad works

13. How Flourish works

14. The My Liverpool Solution
- the student timeline

15. The My Liverpool Solution
- creating an activity description

16. The My Liverpool Solution
- adding an external verifier (if required)

17. The My Liverpool Solution
- reviewing and adding a reflection

18. The My Liverpool Solution
- structured workflow for checking and verification

19. Challenges/Issues
• University/PebblePad relationship – key;
difficult to project plan ‘the unknown’
• Senior mngt on board and knowledgeable;
• Engaging students;
• Engaging staff;
• Sustainability - planning for the future.

20. Key Stakeholders in the project
My Liverpool Steering Group
PVC Education (Chair)
Student Experience leads from 3
faculties
Academic Secretary
Teaching Quality Support
Senior reps –CSD, Careers, SAS
Guild, CLL
My Liverpool Operations group
Representatives from
Careers Service
Corporate Communications
The Student Guild
Computing services (CSD)
Student Administration and Support
Centre for Lifelong Learning
(Project leads)
My Liverpool task group
CLL and CSD
PebblePad

21. Next Steps
• Populate student e-portfolios (a
people and technical issue)
• Build up our stock of University
Verified protocols
• Develop Staging tables
• To implement the electronic HEAR
system alongside this project
Communications