Digital portfolios aren’t new, but they continue to be used in unique and innovative ways.
When students of any age build a digital portfolio, they’re creating a way to both look back at their best work and track progress to see how far their learning and achievement have come.
Digital portfolios also help students take ownership of their learning, because they develop student voice and learn how to assess their work to choose examples that best demonstrate application of knowledge.
As with any edtech tool, the tool itself will not magically transform a classroom, school, or district. A confident teacher who encourages students and knows how to guide learning, however, can.
The best digital portfolios are process-oriented, points out Matt Renwick, an elementary principal in Mineral Point, WI and a former fifth- and sixth-grade teacher.
About the Author:
Laura Ascione
Laura Ascione is the Managing Editor, Content Services at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Find Laura on Twitter: @eSN_Laura
