Tools
In terms of the choice of tool for developing a digital portfolio, it depends on what you want to accomplish. There are many options for mounting a portfolio on the Internet, all have different features and ease of use. The Faculty hasn't sponsored any one tool, so you can choose the tool that best fits your needs.
Web Authoring
One approach to creating an ePortfolio is to use a web authoring tool. This will give you ultimate control of the look and feel of your website (e.g. Dreamweaver, Flash, etc.). This requires that you have a permanent webspace to publish your portfolio and are willing to learn a complex web authoring application.
Internet Services
Another option is to use an Internet service that provides your webspace automatically and uses templates for making it easy to create and post information on the Web. Many of these services were not designed for portfolios per se but can be adapted to suit the needs of a portfolio. Here are links to a few services that might be useful (there are a host of other possibilities):
- edu.glogster
- digital poster creation; this is a program designed to help post items (images, video, text and audio) to a digital bulletin board - you can create individual boards or create links between boards to create an entire website; automatically provides you with webspace
- Sample Table of Content's Page (created in edu.glogster)
- Google Apps
- A number of the online Google Apps can help you create an online ePortfolio. Here is a tutorial describing how to use Google Docs, Blogger and Google sites in combination or separately to enhance your ePortfolio
- ePortfolio with Google Apps
- WordPress.com
- this is a blog service that allows you to create blog entries as well as individual pages and automatically creates the menu items (powerful but a bit convoluted)
- Creating a WordPress Portfolio
- Traditional Portfolio with WordPress
- Teaching Portfolio Example (WordPress)
- My Portfolio (WordPress)
- sample WordPress ePortfolio
- another sample WordPress ePortfolio
- Blogger.com
- another blogging service that can be adapted to creating ePortfolios where each entry can be another section of your portfolio (works but is probably not the ideal solution)
- Blogger ePortfolio
- Weebly
- an internet service solution for creating website publishing - using templates; automatically provides you with webspace; the basic account is free but costs extra for advanced features
- Building your Educational ePortfolio with Weebly (a set of tutorials)
- Weebly Teaching Portfolio Example
- Prezi
- an online presentation creation tool that allows you to turn your portfolio into a presentation by creating a path through the elements; allows you to zoom in and out of different locations on your portfolio map
- Prezi Teaching Portfolio Example
- wix.com
- an Internet service that allows you to create your own custom website, probably comparable to Weebly; the basic account is free but costs extra for advanced features
Resources
Barrett, K. (2012). Introduction to K-12 ePortfolios. Retrieved, Feb. 2, 2012, from https://sites.google.com/site/k12eportfolios/home
Boes, S. (2001). Portfolio Development for 21st Century School Counselors, 4(3), 229.
Bolliger, D., & Shepherd, C. (2010). Student perceptions of ePortfolio integration in online courses. Distance Education, 31(3), 295-314. doi:10.1080/01587919.2010.513955.
Cobia, D. C. et al. (2005). The doctoral portfolio: Centerpiece of a comprehensive system of evaluation. Counselor Education and Supervision, 44(4), 242-254.
Endacott, R. (2004). Using portfolios in the assessment of learning and competence: The impact of four models. Nurse Education in Practice, 4, 250-257. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2004.01.003
Tolisano, S. R. (2009). Digital teaching portfolios. LANGWITCHES, Retrieved, Aug. 5, 2015, from http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/07/17/digital-teaching-portfolios/
Winsor, P. J. T. (2004). Valuing Reflection Through Portfolios, Alberta Voices, Reflections and Insights, 3,(1), pp. 16.
Winsor, P., Butt, R.L. & Reeves, H. (1999). Portraying Professional Development in Preservice Teacher Education, Teachers and Teaching, 5, 9-33.
WINSOR, P. J. & Ellefson, B. (1995). Professional Portfolios: Monitoring and Documenting Professional Development of Student Teachers, Alberta English, Winter 1995, 5, pp. 12.
Wuetherick B., (2010). Why ePortfolios: Student perceptions of ePortfolio use, Teaching and Learning with the Power of Technology (TLT) Conference, Saskatoon, SK, April 2010.