The electronic portfolio as a tool to develop and assess pre-service student teaching competences: Challenges for quality

Many teacher education institutions aim to develop and assess teacher competences during teaching practice. This research study investigates the use and effects of a competence-based e-portfolio for the development and assessment of teacher competences during teaching practice in an academic teacher education programme. Questionnaires and interviews were administered to three parties: student teachers (N = 41), teacher trainers (N = 25) and mentors (N = 46). The results show that according to teacher trainers and mentors the e-portfolio has proven to be a useful instrument for the assessment of teacher competences. Student teachers, in contrast, believe that the e-portfolio is unable to reflect and demonstrate their teaching competences sufficiently. Why that is the case, is the central focus of this paper.