An e-portfolio is an electronic format for students to:
It enables students to represent information in different formats and, depending on the software, take the information with them between schools.
"... it is the learning that really matters. Creating an e-portfolio involves skills essential for 21st century learning – organising and planning material, giving and receiving feedback, reflecting, selecting and arranging content to communicate with a particular audience in the most effective way."
Nick Rate's presentation explains:
Teachers must ensure the underlying pedagogy of establishing students as life-long learners with the skills to self-monitor and evaluate drives how e-portfolios are used. The technology or device used does not replace the learning. The technology is a vehicle to accomplish effective learning outcomes.
Russell Street School teacher, Jacqui Innes describes the process and benefits of planning explicitly with students how and what to share on their e-portfolios.
The purpose/s for an e-portfolio in your school will determine what tool is selected, how the tool is used in your classroom, the criteria for making entries, and how feedback/feedforward is provided.
You can use e-portfolios for:
Linda Sweeny and students explain the process for setting up Blogger for students to use as an e-Portfolio at Te Kura o Tiori Burnham School. They describe the benefits of collaborating and sharing their work with peers, whānau, and teachers.
Work together with parents, students, and teachers to make a schoolwide decision on who will view student work and how they will access it. This will depend on the tool you select for your e-portfolio.
When selecting a specific tool consider:
Look through the school stories and snapshots of learning to see what other schools are doing.
e-Portfolio and blogging tools for recording and showcasing evidence of achievement, managing development plans, setting goals, and creating online learning communities.
The Ministry recognises that e-portfolio tools are an important teaching and learning resource.
MyPortfolio provides a personal learning environment to record and showcase evidence of achievement, manage development plans, set goals, and create online learning communities.
Currently registration is free for New Zealand Schools. MyPortfolio works with any Learning Management System (LMS) supplied by the Ministry’s vendors.
Digital portfolios for any classroom. Seesaw enables students to independently document what they are learning at school.
A blogging service for educators and students, powered by Wordpress.
A blog publishing service owned by Google that allows for multiple blogs.
An and open source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create blogs and websites.
A free website authoring service that integrates with Google drive.
e-Portfolios are part of this NZ-based LMS. There is an initial setup cost for this tool along with a monthly hosting fee.
Whānau connections are a priority at Park Estate School. This report details their inquiry into strengthening learning partnerships via Seesaw digital learning journals. It includes their inquiry questions, literature review, findings, and recommendations.
This search result provides links to principals' sabbatical reports and other useful information on e-portfolios from the Educational Leaders website.
e-portfolios:their use and benefits (PDF, 76.43 kB)
A white paper by Bob Banks, senior solutions architect at FD Learning examining reasons for using e-portfolios. He discusses their versatility and applicability to the wider environment such as connecting to management information systems.
Effective practice with e-portfolios: Supporting 21st century learning
A comprehensive synopsis of the main drivers, purposes, processes, perspectives, and issues around e-portfolio use. Published by Jisc, 2008.
Assessment for learning and e-Portfolios
This efellows research report, written in 2008 by Nick Rate, explores what teachers can do to maximise the formative learning benefits of online e-portfolios.
A site for children who blog and their parents to gain information, inspiration, and support. It was founded by a blogging mum, with help from her two blogging children.
Join the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) and participate in these discussions.
Tools for e-portfolios
e-Portfolios in the classroom
webinar (14 June, 2012). Teachers from Russell St School discuss:
- the pedagogy and purpose for e-portfolios
- how they are encouraging students to reflect on their work more deeply and the benefits to students' learning
- how they setup e-portfolios – software, documentation, staff expectations, and professional development. View the PowerPoint
and download PDFs
used with their e-portfolios.
Discuss, share, and celebrate the use of e-portfolios in teaching and learning.