A Video Gem For A Health E-Portfolio

This paper describes an investigation into the use of video technology to support an exercise for final-year honours degree students of Public Health Nutrition (PHN). The result would form part of their e-portfolio. PHN students may well in their subsequent careers be called upon to make radio, television, or internet broadcasts on public health topics at very short notice. The exercise that they undertook was designed to give them an "authentic" experience mirroring this. In a half-day session, they were each given some scientific summary data about a particular nutrient (for example folic acid, vitamin C, selenium etc.) and asked to prepare two outputs: a written "Press Release" for a newspaper, and a video-recorded interview about the nutrient, in which they answered known questions. Reflection on their learning experience was encouraged and recorded immediately afterwards, as well as at a later time. This was a novel addition to the student experience, constituting a use of technology in support of learning that was not related to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Students were introduced to a flexible learning space where they could work informally using laptops prior to presenting their data in the video-recorded interview. Several aspects of the exercise caused the students some trepidation, but they recognised it as being closer to a real-world experience than other assessments. The findings of the paper include a consideration of the factors influencing the success or otherwise of the exercise drawing on experience gained not only during the current delivery of the session but also during the delivery of an earlier version carried out in the previous academic year. An analysis of the student and staff feedback gathered immediately after the session, and again eight weeks later, is presented. The usefulness of the exercise, the method of assessment, and the applicability to other areas are also discussed.