WHY USE AN EPORTFOLIO CLICK HERE
Collaborators: Khelia Olison Williams, Nadia Flores, and Ennija Armour
Why use an ePortfolio?: Collaborative Discussion
NADIA FLORES
Using an ePortfolio is essential for both students and educators because it goes beyond just showing work, it encourages deeper learning by allowing us to reflect on our progress, choices, and experiences. An ePortfolio provides a space to document our learning journey, giving us ownership and a voice in how we present our growth. This aligns with the COVA approach (Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authenticity) discussed by Harapnuik and Thibodeaux (2023), where students engage more meaningfully when they have control over how they express their learning. As someone who plans to have my own classroom one day, I see the value in ePortfolios as a tool for fostering independent learning and reflection. Instead of just focusing on grades or assignments, students can look back at their work, see their progress, and gain confidence. The 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio, as mentioned by Barnstable (2010), highlight how this approach helps develop critical skills like self-assessment, creativity, and organization. For teachers, it’s a way to understand each student's unique learning process and provide personalized feedback. Reflecting on our learning is crucial, as shown in the "Reflection4Learning" article, because it helps us connect theory to practice and understand the reasons behind our choices. An ePortfolio becomes a space for this reflection, where learners can make meaningful connections between their experiences and goals. Ultimately, using an ePortfolio isn’t just about showing what we've done, it's about deepening our learning and growing as both students and future educators. My ePortfolio will be an essential tool as I transition from a library aide into a teaching role. It will allow me to organize my learning, reflect on my growth, and showcase my skills in a way that I can share with others. By continuing to use my ePortfolio, I will take ownership of my educational progress, becoming more aware of how I am developing as a professional. As I document and celebrate my successes, I will also identify areas where I can grow, both personally and professionally. My ePortfolio will serve as a dynamic platform that evolves with me, supporting my journey into my own classroom one day and helping me create a reflective and engaging learning environment for my future students.
Ennija Armour Response
Nadia, I agree with you about the value of ePortfolios—they do go beyond just showing our work. I’ve found that using a portfolio helps me reflect on my progress and see how much I’ve grown over time. It’s not just about the result but about understanding the journey, which is important for students and educators.
In the classroom, I saw firsthand how portfolios gave students a sense of ownership over their learning. It wasn’t just about getting a grade; it was about looking back at their work, seeing their improvement, and feeling proud of their accomplishments. I think it’s great that you’re planning to use an ePortfolio as you transition into teaching—it’ll be such a valuable tool for tracking your growth and sharing your journey with others.
Plus, as you mentioned, ePortfolios are a great way to develop critical skills like self-assessment and creativity. I’m excited to see how you’ll use yours to create a reflective and engaging learning environment for your future students. Keep up the great work!
Khelia O. Williams's response
Nadia, I plan on introducing e-portfolios in my class as well. How are you going to address the students who don’t have a laptop or personal device? That’s the issue I’m having now in my district. Students can rent a device, but it’s ultimately up to the parents if they want to pay. I only have a few spare iPads for student use.
Ennija Armour
Using an ePortfolio is a powerful tool, especially after diving into this week's readings. Harapnuik and Thibodeaux’s COVA approach highlights how giving students choice, ownership, and a voice in their learning process can lead to more authentic and meaningful experiences. An ePortfolio fits perfectly with this idea because it allows students to control how they present their learning journey.
In my classroom, I’ve seen firsthand how ePortfolios can make a real difference, especially for my senior students. By organizing all the necessary pieces in their portfolios, they’ve been better equipped for life outside the classroom, whether they’re heading to college or entering the workforce. The process of reflecting on their work and progress has given them a clearer sense of their strengths and areas for growth, which has been invaluable as they transition to the next stage of their lives.
The "41 Benefits of an ePortfolio" really drive this home too. It’s not just about documenting work; it’s about fostering skills like self-assessment, creativity, and organization. Plus, as "Reflection4Learning" points out, reflection is a key part of connecting theory to practice. An ePortfolio provides a space where students can do just that—reflect on their experiences and see how they’re growing over time. Overall, I think ePortfolios are an essential tool for both students and educators to deepen learning and make it more personal.
Khelia O. Williams Response
Ennija, Honestly, up until this graduate program, I didn't know an e-portfolio existed outside of the creative professional world. I now understand how having an e-portfolio prepares students more effectively for life after grade school. An e-portfolio is an excellent way to help students gain deeper learning. It allows them to transfer their knowledge from one context to another, whether in a unit in class, school, or personal lives (Thacker, 2022).
Having an established e-portfolio, or knowing how to create and organize one, gives them a head start over others. It also boosts their confidence, as they have concrete evidence of their progress and can present it outside of the classroom, which can motivate and provide a confidence boost.
Nadia Flores
Hello Ennija,
My compliments! I liked going through your post. I completely agree about ePortfolios and their power, particularly in the aspect that allows students to take responsibility for their learning. It’s quite remarkable how much they can benefit from self-evaluation and coalescence of their work both as a preparation for life after school. You made a point of how the e-portfolios enable students’ advancement to the next phase of their life and it stuck with me. I would probably give it to my students as a follow-up to the cover letter activity. I too believe that ePortfolios boost self-esteem because students can track their successes and can show what they did. A great example you have about implementing them with seniors of your classroom is a good example how they can help students get ready for the future. Thank you for your contributions to the discussion!
Khelia O.Williams
Fostering English language skills in a sheltered classroom can be challenging. ePortfolios offer students the chance to engage with the material genuinely, take ownership of their learning, and improve their English language abilities in the classroom.
As a teacher in a sheltered classroom, I provide instruction that helps emergent bilingual students understand English academic content while also developing their English proficiency. Sheltered classrooms provide a safe space for emergent bilinguals to learn, free from the linguistic challenges they may face in regular classrooms, which can be too difficult for them. These classes are designed to meet their specific needs and help ease the transition to mainstream classrooms. Newcomer programs focus on accelerating English language acquisition, developing literacy in students’ home languages, providing content-based instruction, and helping students adjust to a new culture (Short & Boyson, 2004). This approach improves communication, gives students more choice and a voice in their own learning, and makes the learning experience more relevant and practical (Fernandez, 2022). Additionally, the ePortfolio encourages a growth mindset, boosts self-esteem, and motivates students to embrace challenges.
Nadia Flores
Response
I really appreciate your perspective on how ePortfolios can benefit students in sheltered classrooms. It's clear that providing emergent bilingual students with a safe and supportive learning environment is crucial for their language development, and I love how ePortfolios give them the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. By reflecting on their progress, they can build their confidence and take pride in their growth, which is so important for students facing language challenges.
Your point about ePortfolios encouraging a growth mindset really stands out to me. Allowing students to see their own progress and have control over their learning journey can make such a big difference in their overall experience. Thanks for sharing how you're incorporating these strategies into your teaching! Thank you for your contributions to the discussion!
E. Armour Response
Khelia, I couldn’t agree more with what you’ve said about ePortfolios giving students ownership and improving their English skills. At my previous charter school, we also found ePortfolios to be a crucial tool for developing the data needed to ensure student success. For our students, it wasn't just about showing what they had learned but about digging deeper into their progress and reflecting on their growth. That reflection really helped us understand not only where they were academically but also how we could better meet their needs.
I also love how you mentioned that sheltered classrooms create a safe space for emergent bilinguals. Using ePortfolios in that environment seems like a natural fit, allowing students to track their language development in a way that feels empowering. It's especially helpful for building a growth mindset, where they can see their progress over time and be motivated by their own improvements. In both our experiences, it’s clear that ePortfolios aren't just about assignments—they're about giving students the voice and choice to shape their learning journey.