E-learning in medical education: Guide supplement 32.2--practical application.

E-portfolios are often celebrated as the choice of technology to engage students and trainees in the personal development processes which underpin their academic and professional careers, but the process of portfolio creation cannot work in isolation. Research highlights the importance of feedback, relevance and assessment in engaging users and encouraging the pedagogical processes which can be exploited by the online environment. The use of an e-portfolio needs to be embedded firmly into the curriculum and embraced by educators and users alike.