ePortfolios: A Tool to Demonstrate Ongoing Development of Competency in Pediatric Physical Therapy

The purpose of this Special Communication is to provide an overview of portfolio use in health professions education and to describe the potential of a digital electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) to support development and maintenance of pediatric physical therapy essential core competencies. Portfolios have been used in health professions education for formative and summative assessments, particularly for areas difficult to measure such as professionalism, core values, attitudes, and critical thinking.

With a trend toward competency-based education and updated pediatric core competencies, there is unique benefit in portfolio use across the continuum of practice, from entry-level (Doctor of Physical Therapy) to advanced specialty practice and beyond.

Reflection, a key component of education portfolios, promotes learning through meaning-making and self-assessment toward continued development and growth.

ePortfolios can be flexibly and individually applied across diverse physical therapy education goals to demonstrate learner competency and expertise in pediatric physical therapy.