gms | German Medical Science

Background: The documentation of individual learning progress and meeting the requirements for the state examination are crucial for the advancement of the new midwifery programs. In a dynamically changing educational landscape and an increasingly digitized healthcare environment, the integration of digital workplace-based assessment tools in programs is gaining more and more importance. While e-portfolios have already been successfully employed in various healthcare programs internationally, including midwifery education, there have been few e-portfolios specifically developed and evaluated in the context of the new midwifery laws.

Aim/research question: The objective was to determine which workplace-based assessment tools are suitable for ensuring fair, transparent, and consistent evaluation of student learning progress. How can digital forms be designed to comprehensively capture both individual learning development and the fulfillment of state examination requirements?

Methods: Established analog forms were initially digitized and piloted in the first two cohorts of the program. Simultaneously, assessments from other healthcare programs were evaluated for their applicability to midwifery education and adapted within an internal working group at the institute. The results of the pilot phase evaluation, along with the newly developed assessment tool, were integrated into the portfolio’s revision. Subsequently, the experiences of students and clinical instructors with the use of the e-portfolio were monitored, accompanied by an analysis of the portfolio data.

Results: The results indicate a positive response to and utilization of the e-portfolio by both students and clinical instructors. The evaluation of the survey regarding the implementation of a standardized e-portfolio across different clinical sites has shown that it enhances the comparability of practical training while also promoting students’ ability to independently manage their learning processes. At the same time, it becomes evident that the ongoing development of suitable workplace-based assessment tools and associated evaluation criteria remains an important task.

Relevancy: The integration of e-portfolios into midwifery education programs contributes to making the training of midwives more effective and practice-oriented. This has the potential for positive impacts on the quality of education, student satisfaction, and ultimately the health of mothers and newborns.

Recommendations/conclusion: Based on these results, recommendations for further optimizing e-portfolios in midwifery education programs can be derived. These recommendations include enhanced training for clinical instructors, continuous evaluation and adaptation of the e-portfolio, particularly the development of workplace-based assessment tools, and seamless integration into midwifery practice. The introduction of e-portfolios proves to be a promising method for further enhancing midwifery education and improving the quality of maternity care.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: A vote on ethics was not necessary. The research was financed by third-party funds. There are no conflicts of interest.