Title :
The Effect of Employing Electronic Portfolio on Iranian EFL Learners’
Writing Skill
Writer and Institution : Nona Masaeli and Azizeh Chalak , from
Islamic Azad University,
Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Iran
Publisher
: Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 746-751,
July 2016
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0704.15
Employing technology can be good help to both teachers
and their learners. In this research,
the researcher uses electronic portfolio and web-folio as a treatment that can
be helpful in the process of learning. The subject is Iranian EFL students
of language institutes in Isfahan
(Pooyesh Language School). In addition, the researcher uses experimental
research. There are experimental and the control group. The experimental group received the treatment which was employing the
electronic portfolio, while the control group had the conventional context of
language classes. According to Ali (2005), “The electronic portfolio is a
result of technology being readily and conveniently used in most classrooms
today. They are highly motivating for the students who are encouraged by
exhibiting their work. "It means that e-portfolio can motivate the
students in writing, so that the result of students’ writing will be better.
The result of this study is
that the students were more satisfied
with the new material which was the e-portfolio and web- portfolio and also
they got better results out of the writing post-test. The researcher also
described the treatment as motivating for the learners and rewarding for the
teacher. Both learners and the teacher believed that using e-portfolio had positive
effects on the process of language learning.
The shortcoming of using e- portofolio and web-folio is that the connection of internet.
Not each student or teacher has constant
access to the internet. But the teacher or student in my region especially can
still apply this e-portofolio and web-folio if they get connection to the
internet everywhere and any time. It will help the learners use another devices.
Furthermore, the students will be more creative and motivated in doing their assignments.
But, before the teacher applying e-portfolio and web-folio in writing class, I
think teachers should know their learners, their expectations and their
interests so that they can make use of e-portfolios in the best way. Teachers
who want to apply e-portfolios should also be trained before the course because
they need to study about the techniques used in classes which are employing
e-portfolios and web-folios. Although it seems to be hard in the beginning for
the teacher to correct assignments in electronic files, as the time passed, I
am sure the teacher will find it easier and reward to correct electronic
homework and give feedback to students’ activities in an electronic file rather
than in the traditional form of papers.
