Korean Pre-Service Teachers' Experiences of Creating an Online Teaching Portfolio in the Teacher Preparation Course

Abstract

An online teaching portfolio is a digital collection of artifacts for a teacher's professional development and practice. This portfolio includes a teacher's skills, experiences, and achievements and can be used for professional growth, evaluation, and job search. Recognizing the importance of pre-service teachers' experiences of the portfolio, this study aims to understand the effectiveness of online teaching portfolios (e-portfolios) for Korean pre-service teachers. This study implemented mixed methods during the 2022 academic year, including an exit survey (n=62) and individual interviews (n=4). Study results indicated that the Korean pre-service teachers showed a positive learning experience because they could think about the connections between theory and practice while making the e-portfolio. In addition, making an e-portfolio could positively enhance the PSTs' technology integration ability in lesson planning and evaluations. Also, Korean pre-service teachers self-evaluated that they gained greater confidence in learning new technology applications in their lessons. Based on these results, several implications are discussed regarding the effective usage of online teaching portfolios for teacher preparation programs.   Received: 11 September 2023 / Accepted: 19 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024