Digital Portfolio Tools for Education
As a former high school English teacher, then Library Media Specialist, and now Instructional Technology Specialist, I am always on the lookout for new presentation tech tools.
One of the biggest trends that I am seeing at all the recently attended ed tech conferences and workshops (including at this year's ISTE conference) is the emphasis on allowing the expression of student voice.I was particularly touched by one of ISTE's keynote speakers, Jennie Magiera. I highly recommend all educators watch and listen to her inspiring words.
In her keynote address, Jennie discussed "single stories" and how we often rely and judge others on singular understandings of people based on a specific set of characteristics. The goal, she said, is to focus on addressing the untold story rather than the one that can be seen on the surface.
The mistake in making false presumptions and not looking beyond the surface is also beautifully expressed in author Chimamanda Adichie's TedEd Talk "The Danger of the Single Story."
In summation of Chimamanda Adichie's TedEd Talk:
"Chimamanda tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding."
As teachers, how can we allow students to express themselves and to let their own stories be heard?
A great way to allow for students to tell their stories is through the creation of student digital portfolios!
Digital portfolios can serve a variety of purposes. Students are able to make them individualistic, have control over the look and design, while including content that they write, search for, and select. It becomes a representation of who they are - both as students and as people.
What a great way to highlight and showcase their unique voices in the classroom!
Two Free Tech Tools for Student Portfolio Creation
Tech Tool #1: Bulb
I love the polished look of Bulb digital portfolios. And it's free! Though teachers can pay for a subscription (which allows opportunities for a student management system and gives students the flexibility to work on portfolio pages collaboratively), the free accounts also provide more than enough options and features for students. One of the great features in Bulb is the ease of using Google Drive content.Students can make pages private for public viewing but can share with individuals. Pages created using Bulb has a setting to allow others to comment. This feature provides a great opportunity to share your portfolio pages and to receive feedback from peers.
The ability to type in content (along with the capability to stylize the font and to create hyperlinks), import Google Drive files, include embedded videos and audio, and insert images are just a few of the generous features that Bulb provides with their free accounts.
I used Bulb with the 12th grade English teachers at my school when they were searching for a new presentation tool to use for their students' Senior digital portfolios.
You can view the sample porfolio template I created for them HERE. Interested in implementing Bulb in your classroom?
Feel free to use my How-To Guide for Creating Bulb Digital Portfolios with your own students! You will need to log into a Google Account in order to access and copy this guide into your Google Drive!
Tech Tool #2: Adobe Spark Pages.
Interested in Adobe Spark's beta Google Play/Android app? Register in order to use this soon-to-released version at their site.
Students can use virtually any device to create in Adobe Spark. And it ALSO is free! Just like the website Bulb, students can use Adobe Spark to create dynamic, polished webpages.
There are many things I like about creating pages with Adobe Spark. First, you can choose from their theme library in order to create different looks for your page (colors, font types, etc).
Secondly, you have great options for inserting images. Students can use their photo tool to include a photo grid - which is basically a nice picture collage of images. You can also create a glideshow for your page background. LOVE this! If you include a glideshow, you will need to upload multiple images. The resulting scrolling images give a unique panoramic look to your page.
Adobe Spark has a very clean, simple to use tool when creating content on a page. Students just simply choose from text, photo, and video options.
Though it is very simple, the pages created using Adobe Spark do not appear to be simple or rudimentary. They're modern and beautiful!
You check out this sample (fictitious) student portfolio page I created using Adobe Spark.
If you would like to use Adobe Spark in order to implement digital portfolios with your students, I recently created a resource for student digital portfolio pages that is featured in my teacherspayteachers store.The resource is titled "What's Your Story?" and aligns with the theme of allowing student voice and providing an outlet for creative expression.
These top two technology tools are amazing resources for any teacher and students to use for their digital portfolio platforms. Make sure to check both of these dynamic websites and tech tools out!
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| What's Your Story? Autobiographical Project |
