4. An electronic portfolio is not a haphazard collection of
artifacts but rather a reflective tool that demonstrates
growth over time. (Helen C. Barrett, 2000)
A digital portfolio is a purposeful collection of learnings
over time that documents personal, academic and
professional development.
A digital portfolio is a learning process and a product,
showcasing skills, achievements and ideas.
Queensland Government
6. What event or idea do I want to explain?
Using Digital Portfolios to
ensure student success.
What do people already
know?
It is a collection of data and a
visual guide to what students
can do.
What confusions do people
have about the idea or event?
Can they be used effectively?
How do they ensure the success
of students?
There are many more questions
that arise in relation to this topic
What suggestions do I
have for clearing up
these confusions?
By following through this
process of investigation we
have reached a conclusion.
How can I defend my
suggestions?
By showing links to the
Education Queensland
website and policies put in
place to ensure student
success using this tool.
7. Concept/Scenario: Can Digital Portfolios be used to ensure Student success?
Known or Agreed upon: Digital
Portfolios
Confusions or Contradictions: Digital
Portfolios
The digital portfolio is valuable to
21st century learning
Learning Tool for teachers –
provides authentic evidence of
knowledge
Can be linked to all key learning
areas of the curriculum
Time consuming
Learning Managers must have
computer skills to use this resource
So many different templates.
Which one is the best?
Resolution:
Digital Portfolios can be used as an authentic means to communicate what
students know and can do. By doing this they can be used effectively as a tool
for assessment ensuring students success.
Graphic Organiser for Investigation –
Definitional Investigation
8. Original Research – Interviews
with Early Childhood Educators
What is a Digital Portfolio?
• Evidence through photos – timeline of children’s capabilities
•Concrete evidence
•Can be used as a checklist to ensure all children are learning
•Assessment tool
•Memento for Parents
Do you think they can be used for Student assessment and if so are they are a
useful tool?
• Yes great for use in Prep
• Can be used to compare terms – what Student could do in Term 1 compared to
Term 3
• Keeps Teachers on track with what needs to be assessed
• Gives Parents visual evidence of capabilities
• Gives Teachers a better idea of Students weaknesses and strengths
What are the drawbacks of Digital Portfolios?
• Take up a lot of space on computer
• Time consuming
• Need to beware of all Students – sometimes can have more of some students
• Not everybody uses the same template
• Not all teachers put the same amount of work into the portfolio
• Relatively new – not all teachers use appropriately
9. The Display Portfolio
Used to document the activities children actually do in the classroom
Only photos – no Teacher comments
This type of portfolio does not document how children’s individual progress or development
The Showcase Portfolio
Shows child’s best work only
Children are highly motivated to show off their abilities
Samples in this folio do no give information to guide everyday instruction. (Batzle, 1992)
The Working Portfolio
More accurate documentation about how a child is growing and developing
Shows the process of learning new concepts and applying new understanding to tasks
Work samples document child’s strengths and weaknesses
Not representative of the child’s best work, evidence of their everyday performance.
(Meisels et al, 1997)
Children can be involved by seeing their own progress and setting goals for themselves
Danielson and Abrutyn (1997) as cited in Gaye Gronlund.G (1998)
Digital portfolios sustain learning
10. • Structures and processes of using a portfolio as an assessment
tool varies greatly
•Storage of children’s work is essential – teachers need to find a
system that suits them
• Curricular goals and identified criteria needs to be set – this
means only children’s work that meets these objectives is collected
•Teachers need to decide which portfolio will give them the
information they need about their children
•The Working Portfolio becomes an assessment portfolio with the
evaluation process.
•Carefully evaluating work samples by relating to the curricular
goals makes a portfolio truly an assessment tool.
“The primary function of an assessment portfolio is to
document what a student has learned” (Danielson &
Abrutyn, 1997 as citied in Gronlund.G, 1998)
11.
12. A Digital Portfolio is a learning product and process, that
showcases abilities and achievements of the student. There needs to
be a whole-school approach in integrating portfolios, support and
resources for these will allow greater consistency and sustainability.
They use digital format which can include DVD, CD-ROM or
digital photos.
Digital Portfolios allow children to be involved in their own
learning and assessment they are concrete and visual evidence that
can be accessed by Teachers, students and Parents.
13. Smart Classrooms Bytes aims to help build workforce capacity in
leading 21st Century schooling in the knowledge economy while
fostering clever, skilled and creative Queenslanders. It is aligned
with school priorities and departmental agendas such as the
Department’s Strategic Plan 2007–2011.
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts is committed
to establishing Smart Classrooms of the future, where ICT is the
bedrock of 21st Century schools.
http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/pdf/smart-newsletter.pdf
Digital Portfolios maybe the most important tool that we have for
assessment in the future.
15. Marzano. R., & Pickering, D. (1997). Dimensions of
learning: Teacher's manual (2nd ed.). Colorado: McRel.
Gronlund.G. (1998). Portfolios as an assessment tool: Is
collection of work enough. National Association for the
Education of Young Children, Washington DC.
Queensland Studies Authority (QSA).(2007).
http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/learning/7298.html
QSA. (2006). Early Years Curriculum Guidelines. Brisbane,
Qld: Author.
http://education.qld.gov.au/
