Glossary

ACE
This appears as a tag in the ePortfolio and can be used to indicate a record is relevant to the CSP Accredited Clinical Educator (ACE) scheme

Avatar
An avatar is a virtual person that exists online. The CSP ePortfolio includes an avatar that is visible on screen and is used to provide audio explanations of navigation and actions performed within the system. It is normally activated by users who have a visual impairment or by users who have dyslexia.

Blog
A Blog in this ePortfolio is a chronological online diary tool that can only be viewed by the person who creates it, unless they choose to share it with someone else. It can be used for whatever purpose you choose, for example as a reflective journal, a project diary, a placement diary. Refer to the written Help section on Blogs for further information.

Browser
Browser, Internet browser or web browser is a piece of computer software that allows you to access websites. There are different browsers available but those which are most commonly installed on computers include Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, AOL Explorer.

Browser check
Browser check is an area off the login page that, when activated, shows you what type of Browser you have, what version of Flash you are using, whether you have pop ups blocked, and other information. This information is useful as is tells you at a glance whether your computer is set up correctly for the ePortfolio to work properly. Refer to the login page Help section for more information on this - alternatively: check your browser.

CIOG
This appears as a tag in the ePortfolio and can be used to indicate a record is relevant to clinical interest or occupational group (CIOG). This may be useful if you follow a particular CIOG CPD scheme or are involved as a member of a CIOG group or committee.

Create new templates
Create new is the area in the ePortfolio where you can find all the blank templates that allow you to create CPD records for yourself. There are different types of templates, some of which are also briefly described in this glossary e.g. Blog, Profile, Proforma and others which are covered in more detail in the written Help e.g. Ability, Action plan, Meeting. Most of the Create new templates open as blank, multiple paged pads.

Desktop
Desktop refers to the visual appearance of your screen. You can change your desktop appearance in a wide variety of ways using my settings within the tools menu. This ensures that the appearance of your ePortfolio meets your needs and preferences.

Download
This is the process which normally occurs when you transfer a file or piece of software from e.g. a website onto your computer. You tend to receive downloads and send uploads.

ePortfolio
This is a portfolio that is accessed via the Internet, so is called an online or ePortfolio.

Export
Exporting refers to the process used to take a copy of the contents of one ePortfolio account and either transfer it into another ePortfolio account or onto a storage device e.g. a memory stick or floppy disk, as a back up copy. Refer to the Export section in the written Help for further information.

Filter
Filtering is a process that allows you to look for specific types of records e.g. Action plan, Proforma rather than all records, by selecting the record type you want to filter on. This is helpful as it allows you to sift through large numbers of records to find the one you want more quickly.

Flash (full title Adobe Flash)
Flash is a piece of software used to add animation and interactivity to websites and has been used to build the ePortfolio, allowing it to work in a particular way. Without Flash software installed on your computer, the ePortfolio cannot work. Flash software is often pre-loaded onto computers these days, but if not it can be downloaded from the Internet for free. Version 9 is the recommended version for the ePortfolio. Refer to the login page Help section for more information on this.

HPC
This appears as a tag in the ePortfolio and can be used to indicate a record is relevant to the Health Professions Council standards. You can use it specifically for the HPC CPD standards process but can also use it for other purposes too e.g. HPC Return to Practice process, HPC Standards of Proficiency for physiotherapy.

HTML
HTML refers to the abbreviation used for the language used to describe how website and webpage text is structured and presented. In the ePortfolio, you may see it used in relation to exporting your records, as exporting ePortfolio content in html format allows the content to be viewed in a webpage structure.

Icon
An icon is a normally a small image, usually displayed as a picture, character or symbol. It can represent a particular type of record e.g. an Ability icon, or can be an active button that, when selected, performs a particular task e.g. cut, copy, paste are icons that you will see in the ePortfolio.

Import
Importing refers to the process used to transfer a copy of the contents of one ePortfolio account into another, or to transfer a copy of the contents of an ePortfolio saved on a storage device e.g. a memory stick back into a live ePortfolio account. Refer to the Import section in the written Help for further information.

KSF
This appears as a tag in the ePortfolio and can be used to indicate a record is relevant to the NHS Knowledge and Skills framework (KSF) development review scheme.

Pad
A pad is the rectangular shaped box that opens up as a small window in your ePortfolio. Pads differ in their uses in the ePortfolio e.g. there is a Create new record pad, the Home pad, a My records pad, an Overview pad and can contain one or multiple pages. You may also have more than one pad on screen at once, depending on what you are doing in the ePortfolio.

Permissions
When you share a record with someone else you can choose what they can do with your record using permissions. There are 5 levels of share permission:

• View – allows someone to view the record only
• Comment - allows someone to add a comment to your record that you can then see
• Copy - allows someone to take a copy of the record for his or her own ePortfolio. The original record and the copied record become separate items and can be independently edited.
• Collaborate – allows someone to work on a record at the same time as you and any changes made by the person who is collaborating on the record will be made on the original record in your ePortfolio.
• Cascade - allows the person you have shared with to share your record with other users. This may be useful if e.g. you are creating a Blog for a project that has involved a number of active participants who can further add to your Blog.

Pop up
A pop up is the Internet term for a new window that automatically opens inside an existing website window. Pop ups are often automatically blocked from opening by your computer as many of them are advertisements. But in the ePortfolio there is no advertising and pop up windows contain useful information you need to see for the system to work correctly. Therefore you should allow or unblock pop ups for the ePortfolio website address. Refer to the login page Help section for further guidance on how to do this.

Portal
This is a public area in the ePortfolio that everyone can access from the View button. The main portal area allows you to access sub portals. Some sub portals hold resources that can be looked at by everyone e.g. CSP examples portal. Other sub portals are only available to selected users e.g. university students and tutors, interest groups, as they contain only information of use to these particular groups. Access to these sub portals is restricted by either use of a password or by a portal administrator giving you access rights. Refer to the Portal section in the written Help for further information.

Profile
A profile is a particular type of template that allows you to create very detailed, flexible statements about your professional activities. You can link other records in your ePortfolio to a profile you create, to give the profile added value and meaning. You can build profiles for many reasons. Refer to the Profiles section in the written Help for further information.

Proforma
A proforma is a particular type of template used to create a new record in the ePortfolio. There are several proformas to choose from the main Proforma pad in Create new. Once a particular proforma is selected and started, it opens in a new window as a webform. Proformas may look slightly different to other Create new templates such as Ability but all have the same purpose of providing blank templates for you to record your CPD activities on. Refer to the Proforma section in the written Help for further information.

Self audit
A self audit is a particular type of template that allows you to complete a self assessment questionnaire to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and plan further learning. Refer to the self audit section in the written Help for further information.

SMARRT
SMARRT is an abbreviation often used in Action plans and Planning your Learning tools that helps you to write focused objectives or learning outcomes. There are variations on the full description of SMARRT. The one used here is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Resourced and Time bound.

SWOT
You can create a SWOT, either as part of the Action plan template or as part of the SWOT analysis Proforma template. A SWOT analysis encourages you to identify your: Strengths - describe your personal strengths that will support successful achievement of an outcome or process Weaknesses - describe your personal limitations that may hinder successful achievement of an outcome or process Opportunities - describe what resources or people are available to support successful achievement of an outcome or process Threats - describe what factors may present a barrier to successful achievement of an outcome or process

Tab
A tab is a subsection of a pad that, when selected, reveals further options or information. Tabs do not appear in all pads but where they do their heading will appear greyed out and their full content hidden until they are selected.

Tag
A tag is a labelling system in the ePortfolio that enables you to organise your records together under related labels or ‘tags’. You can add a single or multiple tags to a record to show what that record is relevant for e.g. you can add the Appraisal tag to all records that are relevant to your last 12 months’ work-related CPD activities. You can also create your own tags. Refer to the Tags section in the written Help for further information.

TOC
TOC stands for Table of Contents in the written Help. The TOC is divided in relevant chapters that provide extra guidance on the different parts of the ePortfolio.

Toggle
Toggling options within the ePortfolio means to turn options on or off e.g. you can toggle the screen reader avatar on or off.

Upload
This is the process which normally occurs when you transfer a file from your computer to e.g. a website such as your ePortfolio. You tend to send uploads and receive downloads.

Zip
Zip or zipped file format is a popular file compression format. The purpose of zipping or compressing files is to reduce their size to enable them to be transferred more easily over the Internet e.g. for uploading large numbers of files into websites, for sending multiple, large files as email attachments. There are a number of software packages available to zip and unzip files, a common one being WinZip. Some computers already include built-in software for zipping/compressing files including more recent versions of Windows and Apple operating systems.