All about Electronic Portfolios

Electronic Portfolios

For educational purposes, the definition of a portfolio is a collection of student work over a period of time. A portfolio is an authentic performance based assessment tool. It is used for evaluation by demonstrating how and what the student is learning. An electronic portfolio simply means that the portfolio is technology based. There are many different types of electronic portfolios. Most allow for flexibility so that the teacher or facilitator can focus and or measure a specific skill or concept.

Because teaching methods and strategies have changed and will continue to change as research and technologies make advances, the means to assess students must also keep pace. Portfolio assessment began as a way to more accurately evaluate a student. By organizing and collecting student work samples, teachers, students and parents could chart student progress. Often times these portfolios were bulky and took up a lot of room. Other problems included the organization of it as some work samples were of various sizes often too large to be kept in a folder or binder.

What to include in an Electronic Portfolio

· Personal information
· Education history
· Personal stories – blog
· Personal commentary and reflections
· Research information such as documentation and references research
· Annotated bibliographies
· Book lists
· Course work – assignments and projects
· Tutor comments
· Academic and professional achievements – including scanned certificates
· Timelines
· Calendars
· PowerPoint presentations
· Digital photographs (annotated
· Video clips
· Podcasts
· Goals, plans, self assessments
· Recommendation letters and references

There is an endless variety of information that could be added. That is one reason why electronic portfolios can measure and assess almost any concept or skill and in any language because each teacher can design what they wish to measure and include.

Why Electronic Portfolios?

There are benefits to using an electronic portfolio. With traditional portfolios, files, boxes and or binders holding papers, cassettes, pictures, drawings would take up lots of space. With an electronic portfolio, information can be easily stored in a computer hard drive, floppy disc, CD or other. This would take up very little physical space and would be accessed with minimal effort.
Electronic portfolios not only take up little physical space, but can hold a great deal of information. Pictures, 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. Another important addition, would be collaborative student work that otherwise would not be able to be included in each participating students portfolio.

Once the student work is organized, electronic portfolios can be enhanced by the addition of sound, music, pictures, graphics and even video. Thus making it easier and more appealing to the student, parent and teacher.

Electronic portfolios also serve to enhance computer and technology skills. The teacher and student would gain experience by creating, selecting, organizing, editing and evaluating the portfolios. Students would feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment by displaying, sharing and presenting their electronic portfolios to teachers, fellow classmates and parents.

How to Create an Electronic Portfolio?

Besides the time and planning that comes in creating an electronic portfolio, you need to have some basic equipment to begin. The following is a list of the basics: Computer, Scanner, Digital Camera, Multimedia Software Program, Web Authoring Programs.

You would need a computer with multi-media capabilities. The more RAM the better. A colour flatbed scanner is fine. The scanner can be used to transfer documents and images. A digital camera allows for the capture of images of student on task. It could be taken on field trips or outside on the playground. There are quite a few multi-media programs out there.

The following are just an example of the many. HyperStudio, COMPEL, Powerpoint, Persuasion, Storyboard Live, Adobe, etch If you do not have access or do not wish to include sound video and other features, there are programs such as Claris Home Page that allow for the creation of an electronic portfolio without the added features.

In addition to those web authoring programs there is the Grady Profile can be formulated to demonstrate student work and evaluate many areas of the curriculum.

The first step to creating an electronic portfolio is learning and understanding how to use the equipment and software. Training and time is the key to this. You need time to play and plan.

Decide what you want to include and how it is going to look. Plan a flowchart or storyboard. Will it be linear or non-linear? In other words, will the user be able to access the information in order (linear) or will they access the information in any order they choose (non-linear). Also, decide what type of background, sound and other features you might like.

You need to create a template. A template is a group or stack of cards that is the outline or content of the portfolio. Add graphics, borders, art, etc. you also need to add text boxes for the various sections and buttons to link the cards. Save the stack to create a template. Using the template, the student can add information that could include text, sound, messages, pictures, and links to other programs with ease.

Assessment of Electronic Portfolios

Many electronic portfolios use spreadsheet developed by the system administrator to assess the quality of their work. The spread sheet will be a criteria-rating scale, which gives the teachers a tool that allows them to track student performance. They also empower students with the knowledge of what is expected of them. Since the portfolio should be ongoing and not just a project to be completed by a certain deadline, a quality portfolio should include work samples over a long period of time. A selection of work for each month would be on way to chart progress.

WEA will have the electronic portfolio internal verified and external moderated as per the awarding bodies policies and procedure

Are Electronic Portfolios Practical?

Electronic portfolios can be a very practical assessment tool depending on the knowledge level of the teacher and the amount of time they can or are willing to invest. Of course it is much easier with students who are used to technology and have little problem manipulating the computers and other contraptions. The higher the grade level the easier it can be achieved. In other words primary school students would have a greater difficulty creating elaborate electronic portfolios. But with a set template and some cross-age tutors, even kinder and first grade students would be able to author their own multi-media portfolios.

Professional Portfolios

Professional portfolios help educational providers document their teaching achievement, as well as their other scholarly activities including research and service. The reflective process of portfolio development can promote better teaching, develop fresh thinking about education, and encourage personal and professional growth. Teaching portfolios provide educational providers with an opportunity to reflect on their teaching goals, instructional strategies, methods, and materials, as well as student/teacher relationships. Many materials may be included in a teaching portfolio including professional plan (goals, philosophy, reflections), teaching materials (syllabi, lessons, activities, student materials, presentations), sample student documents and projects, curriculum vitae, course evaluations (students, peers, administrators, self), reflections, video/audio teaching samples, recognitions (awards, publications, letters), and professional development (personal plans, teaching innovations, professional activities, service, research, publications, presentations, grants).

Summary

Electronic portfolios are a technology based form of authentic student based assessment. They are a collection of student work over a period of time. Portfolios are both practical and effective because of the rubrics used. The benefits include clear set standards or expectations, quick access, easy storage and increased technology skills. A multi-media computer, a scanner and a software package are the basic technologies needed to create an electronic portfolio. The templates are a way to organize the contents of the portfolio.

References:

Print Sources:

Abrenica, Y & Ramirez Sweeney J. (1996). Assessment Tools for the Writing Section of the Chula Vista Second Grade Progress Assessment, 6-13.

Barrett, Helen C. Technology-Supported Portfolio Assessment. The Computing Teacher, March 1994

Hunter, Barbara, Bagley, Carole, and Bagley, Richard. Technology in the Classroom: Preparing Students for the Information Age. Schools in the Middle, Summer 1993

Niguidul, David. the Digital Portfolio: A Richer Picture of Student Performance. Coalition of Essential Schools, October 1993


Internet Sources:

How to Create an Electronic Portfolio, "http://www.sv400.k12.ks.us/port/how.html">http://www.sv400.k12.ks.us/port/how.html

Barrett, Helen. Links to Electronic Portfolios Looking at Electronic Portfolios. "http://www.student.potsdam.edu/proder26/eplinks.html">http://www.student.potsdam.edu/proder26/eplinks.html
Piper, Carla. Multi-Media Electronic Portfolios, Piper Portfolio "http://jarl.cs.edu/~cpiper/portfol.html">http://jarl.cs.edu/~cpiper/portfol.html