In this section of our resource package you will find popular student centered platforms that can be used to build student portfolios. Choose the one that best fits your classroom!
Seesaw
Seesaw is a place for students to share their work and to encourage individual reflection and peer feedback. It is not only a place where student work is stored but where teachers , peers and families can provide encouragement, constructive feedback and suggestions. Seesaw works on any device. It is free to use. This platform is easy to learn for younger students and offers students multiple ways to show their learning such as text, drawings, screencasts, file uploads and audio recording and video recording options. Students can create, reflect and demonstrate learning. Information is safely saved and formed into a digital portfolio. Students can take pictures of their work upload it to seesaw and use the tools to explain their work sample and thinking. Teachers review comments before they are posted to ensure feedback is constructive and appropriate. Feedback can take the form of written text or voice comments on a peer's work. Teachers can seek out activities and assignments from the activities library or create their own. Seesaw is a platform that allows teachers to find, use and create grade level specific content and use them immediately. Teachers can create folders for assignments or particular subjects and can place activities within specific folders.
There are many video tutorials out there for teachers looking to use Seesaw in their classroom but here are our favorites! Also check out a review of Seesaw from Common Sense Media https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/seesaw
Google G Suite For Education
Google's suite of education tools provides multiple ways for students to create digital portfolios.
Students can save their items in one Google drive folder. While it lacks polish, its a easy way to get started with collecting, curating and publishing artifacts.
A Google doc provides opportunities for students to write and reflect on each artifact. They can type or use Speech to text technology. Students can easily add these google docs to their digital portfolio Google drive folder and link directly to them.
The table of contents feature in Google docs enhances digital portfolio creation. Teachers and students can create headings which can be organized in a table of contents.
Google slides can be an ideal way for students to combine and showcase artifacts with individual slides that can house links to documents stored in the Google drive folder. Google slides allows room for reflections, images and even embedded videos.
Google Sites is a website development program that easily interacts with G suite tools. Sites can be used as a digital portfolio platform where students can embed documents and slideshows. Videos, images, audio recordings and links can also be used in a Google site.
There are many video tutorials out there for teachers looking to use G Suite Tools in their classroom but here are our favorites! Also check out a review of Google sites from Common Sense Media
Book Creator
Book creator can be used as a tool for collecting and combining artifacts of learning in a portfolio. Students and teachers can import images, video, add text, drawings and use the audio recording to showcase and reflect on their learning. The audio function creates a easy opportunity to reflect on the students learning or explain their process. With Book creator there are a number of options for publishing. The book can be exported as ePub files or they can be exported as PDFS or video files . Book creator offers its own publishing platform that allows students to share their creations safely on the web.
Each tool in Book creator has its own set of features, so teachers and students can use a tool that works best for them. As students look back on the work they have added to their book, they can reflect on what they learned and how they learned it. There are many video tutorials out there for teachers looking to use Book Creator in their classroom but here are our favorites!
Fresh Grade Classic
Fresh grade is similar to the platform Seesaw. Students can capture, document and communicate their learning. students can capture their learning on their mobile device and this data can be linked to a individual student, a small group or the entire class. Fresh grade includes a grading program, a portfolio site and a learning management system. It allows teachers to create outcome based assignments, monitor student progress and provide feedback or grades. Teachers have options in terms of what assessment tools they would like to use to provide student feedback. Fresh grade can generate progress reports and teachers can use push notifications to make classroom announcements to parents. Parents are able to download the app on their own device and monitor their child's learning. There are many video tutorials out there for teachers looking to use Fresh Grade in their classroom but here are our favorites! Also check out a review of Fresh Grade from Common Sense Media
https://www.commonsense.org/education/website/freshgrade-classic
Buncee
Bunee is another platform similar to Seesaw, Google slides and Fresh Grade, but is most appropriate for upper elementary and high school. This platform is a creation tool fostering communication. It allows students and teachers to create and share visual presentations easily. It can be used on any device that can download the Buncee app. Students start with a blank presentation slide or choose a template. Students can create and add over 15 forms of media to their presentations including text, video, audio and animation. The platform is a safe and secure place for students to work. Buncee has an immersive reader integrated which makes it a powerful tool for any inclusive classroom. Students can document throughout the year, record reflections and monitor their progress. There are many video tutorials out there for teachers looking to use Buncee in their classroom but here are our favorites!