Sample Electronic Portfolios on the Net
Prepared by Abigail Garthwait, Librarian, Asa Adams Elementary
Lasercard Portfolios
Marshall High School, Portland Oregon, is testing a new system of tracking student records and academic progress. These lasercards can store about three megabytes of information which equates to about 1250 pages of text. Student work may be placed on individual cards (both teacher and student selected) as well as information about competence performances, attendance and extracurricular activities etc. A full explanation of this system may be found in a article by Zita Podany " Electronic Portfolios: A New Curricular Frontier."

Our Funky Presentation

Written by three education students at the College of Education at San JosÚ State University these pages are a class project. Dr. Karen E. Reynolds teaches the course (EDTE 214) which was designed "to consider theories of learning, motivation, and teaching in the context of a classroom or other instructional setting that is supported by personal computers, video recorders, videodisc players and other new technology." Visit this site! Further resources are listed, and three fine examples are given (two elementary and one secondary. Issues and concerns are raised; for example these students encounter teacher computer-phobia, lack of multi-lingual software and parental concern that technology use was only play.

East Syracuse-Minoa High School Portfolio Manager

East Syracuse-Minoa High School is no newcomer to the electronic portfolio field; they have been using a computer-based portfolio called The Portfolio Manager since 1993. Both college bound and non-college students develop their high school records on disk to support job or college applications. Originally designed in Hypercard, it now uses HyperStudio (sample cards are shown on their Homepage). Each portfolio is divided into three main sections: Achievements, Personal Profile and Skills Documentation.

Electronic Portfolio Assessment Project

This project is a wonderful place to start when just exploring the use of Electronic Portfolios. The links are clear and the information is excellent. This project appears to be a fine example in partnering as it was sponsored by Chenango Forks Schools, Binghamton University and Chemung Electronics. The site contains links to topics including: HyperStudio on the Net
Join a listserv on the topic, view sample stacks, subscribe to HyperStudio Journal, read about schools using this tool from primary to college level - start here! P.S. Hyperstudio can be used on Macs, Windows and Apple GS computers.

Frank Flanagan

Frank Flanagan, a teacher at Kroc Middle School, suggests some ways of accomplishing an electronic portfolio on his webpages.

"Project SAIL" (Student Assessment of Individual Learning)

The library media director is on the team with the fifth grade teacher and the principal to pilot this project using HyperStudio. Phil Gredler, the fifth grade teacher explains that "It allows students to reflect on work theyÍve completed and view themselves as successful contributors. Students set personal goals and help develop a standard of excellence, seeing themselves as 'workers' in the process." It is up to the student to edit and update their own portfolios. The team eventfully wishes to expand it beyond this fifth grade pilot spot. For more information you might want to e-mail the principal Jane Durham, jdurham@greatlinks.cic.net.

Blue Ridge Project

Although the Blue Ridge Projectin quite wide in its academic scope, a sub-segment is the Multimedia Development Studio which is designed to help students learn the habits and skills for the new work places. The electronic portfolios use HyperCard and a sample is shown on their pages. Students pay $25 to keep their CD-Roms but these do not compete with traditional record keeping. The author of the site says that the politics are too volatile. Goals for this section are to help each student develop the ability to:
* Do independent research. * Create multimedia products from their research findings. * Present multimedia products orally, using the latest in multimedia technology. * Evaluate their own work. * Evaluate the work of others. * Work independently as well as in teams. * Work cooperatively with supervising teachers. * Present their work to adult and student guests. * Teach what they know to others.
Shasta Middle School
The curriculum for this school centers on the state adopted Certificate of Initial Mastery goals and the environment is project-oriented. According to their Home Page, student perform "original research" and they present their findings to a larger audience often employing appropriate technology. Students collaborate with adults and students around to world and conduct on-line interviews. Sometimes the final projects are interactive CD-ROMs pressed by the student media team at the local high school. These CDs may contain hypertext, photographs, and video and audio.

In this environment, it is expected that students will take greater responsibility for their own learning. Besides directing the thematic units, teachers become a resource for students suggesting topics ripe for exploration and possible resources. Assessment of student progress is done on a regular basis. Students maintain their electronic portfolios and conduct student-led conferences periodically. Students who appear to be falling behind are "detoured" into resource channels, then mainstreamed back into the thematic unit structure.

Tools for Reaching Florida's Goals

Although these webpages are structured around FloridaÍs Goal 3 (Improving Schools with Technology) there are several fine examples of schools using electronic portfolio assessment.

Institute for Global Learning

The goals of the Institute for Global Learning are "to develop and conduct educational programs that result in participants who understand the cultural foundations of economic, political, and social policy and are competent in dealing with and among diverse cultures." The organization uses the internet as an educational medium designed for independent learners and expect all students to engage in a self-assessment inventory available at this site.

T.H.E. Journal Articles

"CD-Recording Systems Transform Educators into Digital Publishers." An article from THE Journal which discusses the pros and cons of teachers actually doing the digitizing as well as strategies and tips for how to do it.

Assessment Packages: Technology Helps Determine Mastery

Case Studies - Student Performance Assessment in New York High Schools

Using a combination of video and computer technology, New York High Schools have been looking at new means of documenting student growth.

Two examples and a contact person are given.

Portfolio and Assessment Mailing List

ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIOS COMMERCIAL HOME PAGES

Electronic Portfolio Home Page (Learning Quest)
Grady Profile
Aurbach & Associates, Inc., 9378 Olive Street Road, Suite 102, Saint Louis, MO 63132
Phone: 314/432-7577; Fax: 314/432-7072; EMail: aurbach@aol.com
Grady Profile Companion (use with Newtons)
HyperStudio
Learner Profile (Sunburst)
Linkway Live! (IBM) - Actually this link doesn't seem to work any more but try this.
World of Newton
Scholastic Electronic Portfolio
SchoolVista Assessment Suite (IBM)

Back to Portfolios

August 1997
Maine Educational Media Associaton

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