The views of students and teachers on the use of portfolios as a learning and assessment tool in midwifery education.

As the introduction of devolved continuous assessment in midwifery education has led to the introduction of new and varied learning and assessment strategies, there is a need to evaluate their use. The focus of this study is on the views of students and teachers and on portfolios as a learning and assessment tool in midwifery education. In a small exploratory study questionnaires were used to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data from 24 student midwives. Eight tutors were also interviewed. Data was analysed using an adapted version of grounded theory. Many students had negative feelings about the use of portfolios. In particular problems related to lack of motivation, uncertainty about what was expected of them, difficulty in expressing personal thoughts and feelings and the subsequent anxiety that this created. Tutors showed some awareness of the relative merits associated with the use of portfolios for learning and assessment. Although some of the students problems in keeping the portfolio were appreciated by the tutors, the students perceived there were few attempts made to rectify or minimise these difficulties.