Create Electronic Portfolios with 7-12 Students
using Common Desktop Software Tools

(two day hands-on workshop)

Abstract: Learn strategies to design and organize a standards-based electronic portfolio, which can be a powerful tool to guide formative assessment. Bring electronic "artifacts" to convert into electronic format, as well as the outcomes, goals, or standards you want these documents to demonstrate.

Workshop Description: This workshop will introduce a strategy for using a variety of common desktop software tools to store and organize electronic learning portfolios for secondary school students.  Participants should bring a floppy diskette with files that they want to use, as well as the evaluation criteria/standards/rubrics they want to demonstrate with these portfolios.   The results of the two-day-long activity can be saved on a floppy diskette (without video) or a high density floppy, such as a Zip disk or CD-R disc. A follow-up graduate online class would be available to continue class discussions and develop an implementation plan for developing electronic portfolios with these students.

Workshop Goals

Prerequisite participant skills/knowledge required: Intermediate computer skills - this is NOT a workshop for beginners.

Prior to the Workshop: Participants should review the preparation video or website and bring the following to class:

  1. a set of goals or standards to be used to organize portfolio reflections and artifacts
  2. a collection of artifacts: electronic files or images to be scanned that are representative of typical and best work -
  3. a digital story (in QuickTime format) created in a prior workshop

Decisions to be made by educational institution before the workshop:

  1. Preferred digital publishing environment
  2. Preferred Authoring/Hyperlinking Tools (besides Microsoft Office) Ð Participants need to be familiar with the program Ð we will only use the software to create the hyperlinked/reflective portfolio
  3. Publishing format (dependent on item #1 above)

Workshop Outline

Day 1
Morning

"Why?"

Participants will:

  • Become aware of the various strategies for authoring electronic portfolios
  • Become aware of the electronic portfolio development process (video available)

Go through the Stages of Electronic Portfolio Development

Stage 1: Design electronic portfolios for secondary students (planning doc)

  • decide on portfolio goals (based on learner outcomes based on standards)
  • describe the audience for the portfolio
  • decide on contents of portfolio
  • decide which software tools are most appropriate

Afternoon

"How?"

"What?"

Stage 2: Create the Working Portfolio, using one of a variety of applications

  • gather multimedia materials which represent learner's achievement
  • convert to PDF
  • discuss adding Audio and Video artifacts to the portfolio
  • create an outline or storyboard with PowerPoint, Word, or Inspiration
  • Create a portfolio matrix (artifacts to standards) with Excel spreadsheet

Stage 3: Discuss reflection on work and achievement of goals

  • Discussion on reflection - review websites on Reflection
  • Create basic content of reflective portfolio using Microsoft Word

Overnight:

Work on electronic portfolios, converting artifacts, editing PDF files & video clips. Optional: Create a short digital video clip to introduce portfolio, or record an audio file, or include Digital Story from prior workshop.

Day 2
Morning

"So What?"

Stage 3(cont.): Record reflection on work and achievement of goals. Discuss using other authoring tools: [Here is where we decide on a recommended tool for preparing the presentation portfolio]

  • Database (i.e., AppleWorks or FileMaker Pro)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (no Keynote until it does hyperlinking)
  • HTML authoring software
  • Inspiration
  • EZedia
  • NoteTaker
  • iPhoto
  • other?

All of these activities are based on my Tutorial for creating an Electronic Portfolio (http://transition.alaska.edu/www/portfolios/howto/index.html)

Stage 4: Convert all reflection documents to HTML or Portable Document Format or videotape from a variety of applications (i.e., word processing, database, slide show).

[The choice of publishing format depends on availability of software. Use Netscape Composer (free), or download Dreamweaver 30-day demo from Macromedia or install Adobe Acrobat.]

  • Organize with hypertext links between standards/rubrics/goals, student work samples, rubrics, and assessment
  • In Acrobat, create Bookmarks and Thumbnails
  • Insert video clips or record audio to accompany still images.

Afternoon

"Now What?"

Tips and tricks with Adobe Acrobat editing or HTML editing

Stage 5: Present portfolio draft to participant audience and publish portfolios

  • Discuss publishing options, including CD-R, DVD, video and WWW server
  • Demo CD recording or iDVD and have participants burn a first draft prior to or during the final discussion, or upload files to web server, if available.

Discuss portfolio evaluation rubrics

Discuss applicability of process to K-12 education (at different age levels)
Discuss support needed for this process with teachers and administrators.
Discuss planning for implementation with teachers and students

(Those taking the follow-up graduate class will continue these discussions online and develop an implementation plan for developing electronic portfolios with their students.)

Summarize the process and Workshop Evaluation.