Currently all students in the county maintain Eportfolios, even students as young as first grade. Most of the information kept in the portfolio is test scores and other documented assessments. However, more and more teachers are beginning to add comments and anecdotal records to each child’s portfolio. It is my hope that eventually the county I work in will move toward keeping a compilation of projects and work the student has completed, thus making the portfolio even more “worth it” to our students.
In addition to communication and long-term progress monitoring, Eportfolios posses the unique quality of providing students with individualized meaningful assessment. Ahn (2004) suggests Eportfolios embrace a potential to bridge the conflict between standardized and individual assessment “as they combine individual student work with standards-based assessment, while also organizing and indexing student data.” Eportfolios and individual authentic assessment allow students to think about material critically. Barrett (2007) concludes that an educational portfolio includes materials that a student has collected over time; many items within a portfolio are student selected, reflected upon, and presented to show growth and understanding. Barrett (2007) suggested that it is well known that individuals have used portfolios for many years; however their main use was to demonstrate best work. Additionally, Wall et. al (2006) stated an Eportfolio should be used to reflect and celebrate a student’s learning. Furthermore, an Eportfolio can be used to express a student’s authentic work, overtime the Eportfolio will allow students, parents, teachers, and other stake holders the opportunity to view success and growth after a while.
References
Ahn, J. (2004). Electronic Portfolios: Blending Technology, Accountability& Assessment. T H E
Journal, 31(9), 12-18. Retrieved from Computers & Applied Sciences Complete database.
Barrett, H. (2007). Researching Electronic Portfolios and Learner Engagement: The REFLECT
Initiative. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 50(6), 436-449. Retrieved from
ERIC database.
I agree about the importance of e-portfolios. My children attend a virtual academy and they have to send in various selections of work...writings, homework, etc. From this, the teacher is able to see their progress, as you stated, over time. I can see how important this is at monitoring a students growth. E-portfolios can also help to tell "the story" as to why and how some students do better than others on standardized tests.
ReplyDelete