Digital Porfolios (K-12)Emily Rosen

CREC

What is a digital portfolio?A purposeful collection of student work

demonstrating the student’s efforts, progress, growth, and achievement in one or more areas

Other terms used interchangeably include Electronic Portfolios or e-portfolios

Used in higher education for many yearsBeing used in the K-12 realm more each year

The power of portfoliosA record of a child’s ongoing development

over timeInformation to help you design instructionInvolves students in assessing their own workAn effective method of communication

between students, teachers, parents and beyond!

Most common types of portfoliosWorking portfolio – contains projects the

student is currently working onDisplay portfolios – showcases samples of

students best workAssessment portfolios – used to show student

has meet specific learning requirements

Why use digital porfolios?Files, boxes, and binders of the traditional portfolio

take up lots of room and are not flexibleElectronic portfolios use little physical space and can

hold lots of informationPictures, art work and writing samples can be all be

scanned in and saved.Reading samples could be recorded. Work samples

from the previous school year could also be included. They can be enhanced by the addition of sound, music,

pictures, graphics and even video. All this makes digital portfolios much easier to manage

and more appealing to the student, parent and teacher.

Developing a digital portfolioSelection: develop the criteria for choosing

items to include based on learning objectivesCollection: gather items based on portfolio’s

purpose, audience, and future useReflection: statements about the significance

of each item and the collection as a wholeDirection: review reflection and set future

goalsConnection: publishing and soliciting

feedback

Common “traps”Emphasizing the “electronic” side of

electronic portfoliosShould emphasize the “portfolio” side insteadA good digital portfolio is more than a digital

scrapbook!

Questions to ask before getting startedWhat will I use to organize and contain

student work?Where will I keep the portfolios?What development areas will I be assessing?How will I manage and maintain the digital

portfolios?

What you might need…Some basic technology tools including (most

likely) a computer, scanners, digital camera, and possibly some kind of software

Tools of the trade…Richer Picture software

http://www.richerpicture.com/digital.phpFlip book software (

http://www.flipalbum.com/fahome/product/fasuite/)

Wikispaces (www.wikispaces.com) (no ads for educator sites)

Google sites (http://sites.google.com)Microsoft PowerPoint Adobe PDF