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Introduction

Mpho-Entle Puleng Modise and Norman Vaughan

Digital Resilience of ePortfolios During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future delves into the transformative role that ePortfolios have played during and after this global crisis. This online open educational resource (OER) explores how ePortfolios have sustained educational and professional activities and fostered a new level of digital resilience. The book contains 43 chapters from 85 authors from around the globe.  These chapters have been categorized into the following seven themes:

  1. Building Digital Resilience: ePortfolios in Times of Crisis, exploring how ePortfolios adapted and endured during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Navigating Challenges: Barriers to ePortfolio Implementation & Strategies for Sustainable ePortfolio Use, identifying key obstacles and how institutions and educators responded. Highlighting practical approaches and innovations that enhanced resilience.
  3. Rethinking Assessment: ePortfolios as Tools for Authentic Assessment, examining how ePortfolios transformed assessment practices during remote learning.
  4. Design for Impact: Innovation in ePortfolio Structure and Function, showcasing creative and practical design principles that emerged during the pandemic.
  5. Empowering Educators: ePortfolios in Teacher Education, discussing the role of ePortfolios in preparing and supporting future teachers.
  6. Lifelong Learning: Professional Development Through ePortfolios, exploring how ePortfolios support continuous growth and reflective practice.
  7. Looking Ahead: Future Directions for Digital Resilience in Education, outlining key lessons and strategic pathways for post-pandemic educational innovation.

Through case studies, practical guidance, systematic reviews, and forward-looking insights, these chapters uncover how ePortfolios have been leveraged to overcome challenges and seize opportunities in the face of uncertainty. The chapters highlight the rich, lesson-filled journeys of transitioning to remote and hybrid models in diverse environments. As we look ahead, this book also explores the evolving landscape of ePortfolios, considering how they can continue to support student agency, lifelong learning, and professional growth in a post-pandemic world.

Ultimately, this book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the digital resilience fostered by ePortfolios during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. This book serves as a resource for understanding the transformative role of ePortfolios and provides actionable insights for leveraging their potential in the future. We hope that the insights and lessons shared here will inspire educators, students, and professionals to harness the full potential of ePortfolios, ensuring they remain a vital tool for success in an ever-changing digital landscape.

EDITORS

Prof Mpho-Entle Puleng Modise
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Email: modismp@unisa.ac.za
Prof Norman Vaughan
Mount Royal University
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Email: nvaughan@mtroyal.ca

University of South Africa and Mount Royal University Library Logos, full color