Digital ethics and the use of the ePortfolio: A scoping review of the literature

ePortfolios have become more than simple repositories for professional development, achievement, and assessment; they now provide opportunities for students to develop an online profile and presence. As ePortfolios become more widely implemented in higher education, some unintended consequences around privacy, consent, and confidentiality have caused ethical dilemmas, particularly with vulnerable communities such as patients and children. This systematic scoping review found a dearth of literature surrounding policies and guidelines for students. While there appears to be guidance on consent with respect to accessing information or images from vulnerable communities, there is limited guidance on how to address the ethical use of information online. When planning, reviewing, and evaluating guidelines provided for students to develop their personal ePortfolios, ethical use of online information requires careful consideration. Such guidelines will prevent negative impacts on vulnerable communities and improve the quality of work produced by students and their understanding of digital ethics when creating ePortfolios.