Why Should we Use a Digital Portfolio

I think there are so many different reasons why using digital portfolios are important in the learning process. The article that I read about the 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio really helped me solidify in my mind why our learners should be using a portfolio.  The article separates the benefits into process and product.  I liked how they did it.  A couple of the take aways that I had were:

• Learning will take on a new depth through the reflection process

Such an important piece that we need to remember and use often.  If we can continue to use our portfolios as a space for reflection, the more depth we can add to our learning.  When you spend time thinking about what content means to me and make connections and then be able to thing through that process the more in depth the learning will be.

• They may develop their own goals for their learning

Yes, yes yes!  If more kids developed their own goals for what THEY WANTED to learn, the more ownership they would have in the process of learning the new content.  How many times have we heard, "Why do I need to know this?"......if they are the ones setting the goal, they already know why.

• They will have a tool for feedback from teachers and peers; feedback in the form of comments, as opposed to marks.

Feedback is such an important part of the learning process.....the more people can give you feedback, positive or constructive the more you have a chance to strength your understanding on a topic. FEEDBACK FEEDBACK, FEEDBACK!!

• They will have a concrete way of showcasing strengths to teachers or future employers

This one can sometimes be the hardest point to talk through with people because either at the time they are not looking for a specific job, so creating something for something that may or may not happen is a hard concept to think through.  I think that I will try to focus on creating concrete ways of showcasing strengths to anyone.  If you can find ways to showcase passions and strengths, then when you ARE looking for a job you will already HAVE the content you need and you can find ways to organize that content for the future employers to help tell your story.

• They will understand the important aspect of the process fully and see that the process is just as important as the product.

WOW, yes!!! This is one that i would like to shout out to anyone who wants to listen.  As an advocate for digital learning, this topic comes up all the time.  It seems like when educators think about technology, they are focused on the product that kids will create in class.  Usually my questions turns to, how would technology fit in the process of learning?  how can technology take the learning somewhere we couldn't have gone without it?  What can the learners do with technology (connect to people outside of the district, find a resources that they couldn't have found, etc) that they couldn't have done before?  How can we move from just engaging to engaging and redefining?

So, the question is WHY a digital portfolio?  Well, because it is a platform that allows for ALL of the best strategies for learning in one place.  Plain and simple.  

**image from: https://pixabay.com/en/why-question-marks-unknown-ask-2028047