A student portfolio is a collection of materials or items that is presented for examination or review. A digital version of a student’s portfolio uses various forms of digital media for the same purpose. Keep reading to learn why student portfolios provide educators, parents and onlookers with insight into a child’s academic progress.
What Forms of Digital Data Is Used to Make Up a Digital Portfolio?
There are many different forms of digital data that students can insert into their portfolio collections. Teachers typically require pupils to use digital photos, videos and digitized drawings or animations created with drawing or photo software. Students can take photos of themselves throughout the year. They can snap pictures while in school or when they are attending school related functions.
Many teens and young kids like to make videos and they too are often added into a digital portfolio. Drawings and animations can be developed with specialized software. They can make still art or produce a cartoon that represents them. Some teachers will even allow students to add copies of tests they passed and even progress reports. There are a few digital portfolios where students can connect to their social media accounts. There are many websites that also state that students can include blogs, websites and even forums with their creation.
Why Are Digital Portfolios a Great Learning Tool?
Digital portfolios are a great learning tool because they display results. Older students can show off their talent and academic skills to potential employers, for colleges and for potential internships. They can also use their electronic portfolios to gain jobs within school or to try out for sports. However, the best use for a digital portfolio is to see the progress that children have been making during their educational attainment.
This is important for teacher’s being able to evaluate how well a child is performing. The portfolios can also help an instructor to figure out what type of grades that a student will have. Parents can use their child’s digital portfolio to figure out what they are learning. Parents will also be able to determine their child’s social interaction and behavior in school. Administrators can also use the portfolios to determine if children are truly being instructed properly and if they need to adjust curriculum or make other changes to learning material, and digital portfolios help to boost a student self-esteem.
Digital Portfolio Software
There are some software and application programs that will allow students to make a dynamic digital portfolio. Things like ClassDojo | 8 Educational Apps To Create Digital Portfolios can be used for this purpose. Each software program is able to help students organize media. They can also offer features for editing and producing drawings.
Teachers typically start students on their digital portfolios at the beginning of the year. They typically have them ad material as the year unfolds. By the time school is out for summer, students should have a rich portfolio that is loaded with their previous work, achievements and accomplishments from the past year.
