What is a Digital Portfolio?
Digital portfolios are a collection of learning that is developed over time. Its purpose is to organise the documentation of declarative and procedural knowledge which can be used for assessment and reporting or demonstrating personal and academic development (Department of Education and Training, 2010).
Digital portfolios can be used to store resources and an archive of evidence for multiple purposes, including:
· Celebrating learning
· Personal planning
· Accountability and assessment
Digital portfolios can be used to support processes, including:
· Capturing and storing evidence
· Reflecting
· Giving and receiving feedback
· Planning and setting goals
· Collaborating work samples
· Presenting an assessment item
Students need to be aware of the reflective practice involved to ensure their work evaluation is successful. This will become a Habit of Mind that will support lifelong learning.
(Barrett, 2009)
Digital portfolios can be used to store resources and an archive of evidence for multiple purposes, including:
· Celebrating learning
· Personal planning
· Accountability and assessment
Digital portfolios can be used to support processes, including:
· Capturing and storing evidence
· Reflecting
· Giving and receiving feedback
· Planning and setting goals
· Collaborating work samples
· Presenting an assessment item
Students need to be aware of the reflective practice involved to ensure their work evaluation is successful. This will become a Habit of Mind that will support lifelong learning.
(Barrett, 2009)
The Digital Portfolio Framework
Department of Education and Training(2010), have developed a framework to provide an overview of four different digital portfolio dimensions. The unique characteristics of each of the four portfolios below creates a model that can be used to focus on assessment and reporting.
The Digital Archive Portfolio
This type of folio stores students’ work samples to be used as evidence of learning. It is used predominately for reporting at a teacher level (teacher records), school level and to government bodies through programs such as One School. An example would include a digital scrapbook or a digital record of test scores over a period of time. The record could be progressively developed throughout their school year, or also added to every year to track their school learning journey.
(DET, 2010)
The Digital Capabilities Portfolio
This type of portfolios particularly reflects formative assessment. It is used to present work samples that evaluates the students developed capacities through their learning during the course of a unit of work, a school term, or year. It is referred to as the knowledge bank that monitors the student’s progress and records achievement. An example of a digital capability portfolio could include a summative task of selecting content to create a digital portfolio to reflect their knowledge bank.
(DET, 2010)
The Digital Showcase Portfolio
This type of portfolio is a celebration that is designed to engage a particular audience. It showcases student achievements in a format that can be presented to parents or future employers. Students have the ability to create a collection of their work that commemorates excellence and innovation. An example of this could include a portfolio of pictures, work samples and videos demonstrating student achievements and improvements.
(DET, 2010)
Digital Learning Portfolio
This type of portfolio is a learning space to create knowledge through focused student centred activities. The main process in this area is designing, decision making, goal setting and scaffolded reflection. It demonstrates the process the students need to reflect and evaluate their knowledge to promote lifelong learning. This student-centred portfolio includes stored digital materials, tools to support the learning, feedback, results and future plans. An example of this could include a digital storytelling tool which demonstrates the progressive understanding of a concept.
(DET, 2010)
This type of folio stores students’ work samples to be used as evidence of learning. It is used predominately for reporting at a teacher level (teacher records), school level and to government bodies through programs such as One School. An example would include a digital scrapbook or a digital record of test scores over a period of time. The record could be progressively developed throughout their school year, or also added to every year to track their school learning journey.
(DET, 2010)
The Digital Capabilities Portfolio
This type of portfolios particularly reflects formative assessment. It is used to present work samples that evaluates the students developed capacities through their learning during the course of a unit of work, a school term, or year. It is referred to as the knowledge bank that monitors the student’s progress and records achievement. An example of a digital capability portfolio could include a summative task of selecting content to create a digital portfolio to reflect their knowledge bank.
(DET, 2010)
The Digital Showcase Portfolio
This type of portfolio is a celebration that is designed to engage a particular audience. It showcases student achievements in a format that can be presented to parents or future employers. Students have the ability to create a collection of their work that commemorates excellence and innovation. An example of this could include a portfolio of pictures, work samples and videos demonstrating student achievements and improvements.
(DET, 2010)
Digital Learning Portfolio
This type of portfolio is a learning space to create knowledge through focused student centred activities. The main process in this area is designing, decision making, goal setting and scaffolded reflection. It demonstrates the process the students need to reflect and evaluate their knowledge to promote lifelong learning. This student-centred portfolio includes stored digital materials, tools to support the learning, feedback, results and future plans. An example of this could include a digital storytelling tool which demonstrates the progressive understanding of a concept.
(DET, 2010)
The process needed for students to create a digital portfolio
It has been suggested that the process of developing a digital portfolio can be divided into four categories. These include:
· Collect: Where work samples and demonstrations of student knowledge are digitally archived.
· Select: Students choose the samples of work they want to use to document their progress.
· Reflect: Students evaluate goals and achievements in their learning.
· Celebrate: Students publish the portfolio to display their achievement.
· Collect: Where work samples and demonstrations of student knowledge are digitally archived.
· Select: Students choose the samples of work they want to use to document their progress.
· Reflect: Students evaluate goals and achievements in their learning.
· Celebrate: Students publish the portfolio to display their achievement.
