Digital portfolios have become increasingly popular in education in recent years. They are online collections of student work that can showcase their learning and progress over time. Digital portfolios provide a number of benefits for students, but they are particularly valuable for promoting equitable student success. Here are some of the key benefits of digital portfolios in this regard.
Benefits of Digital Portfolios for Equitable Student Success
Individualized Learning
Every student learns differently. Some thrive with hands-on projects, and others express themselves best through visuals, writing, or maybe even coding. That’s where digital portfolios come in. Students can use digital portfolios to demonstrate their learning in a way that is unique to them. Instead of being limited to one-size-fits-all traditional assessment types, such as tests and essays, there are alternative ways students can showcase their strengths and interests. Creating work that’s meaningful to them can help to promote a sense of ownership and investment in their learning. This individualization of learning experiences can help to level the playing field for students who may not excel in traditional assessment types or who may have different learning needs.
Increased Engagement
Because digital portfolios offer students more agency in their learning, they can be a powerful tool for promoting engagement. By being able to choose the types of student work they want to showcase and how they want to present it, they’re more likely to be invested in the process. Additionally, the use of multimedia in digital portfolios can make the work more engaging and interesting for students. This will improve their growth over time and open the doors for additional opportunities, both for personal growth and professional development.
Improved Authentic Assessment
Standardized tests only tell part of the story. If teachers rely on results from a single test to determine a student’s ability, they’ll miss the bigger picture—student progress. Digital portfolio assessment tools can provide a more comprehensive view of students’ learning process than traditional assessment approaches can. Because they showcase a range of different types of student work over time, they allow educators to see patterns and growth in student learning that may not be apparent in a single test or assignment. This ongoing evidence and insight can provide a more accurate and holistic view of student achievement, making assessment practices more equitable.
Increased Equity
Perhaps the most significant benefit of digital portfolios is their potential to increase equity in education. Not every student has the same starting line, so digital portfolios give all students the flexibility to demonstrate their learning on their own terms. Additionally, digital portfolios can be accessed from anywhere, which can help address issues of access and opportunity for students who may not have the same resources at home as their peers. By letting students choose how and when to demonstrate their learning, portfolios remove some of the common barriers found in traditional assessment.
College and Career Planning
Digital portfolios can also help to prepare students for college and career success. By showcasing their learning and achievements in a digital format, students can develop valuable digital literacy skills. Additionally, the process of portfolio assessment, from curating to reflecting on their work, can help students develop the critical thinking and self-reflection skills that are necessary for success in higher education and the workforce.
Five Things to Look for in an Equitable Solution for Digital Portfolios
When implementing digital portfolios in the classroom, it's essential to consider the impact of technology choices on student success and equity in the classroom. While some teachers may prefer to let students choose their portfolio tool, this can create unexpected barriers, particularly for students who lack access to technology or have different levels of technological expertise. For instance, students without technology or tech-savvy family members at home may struggle to complete assignments outside of class. In addition, using different tools can lead to subconscious biases in digital design and create disparities in how students' work is perceived.
When assessing a digital portfolio tool to provide equitable opportunities for students, there are five critical things to consider:
1. Mobile-friendly app or website
Students who do not have a computer or laptop may still have access to a smartphone or tablet at home, so offering a mobile-friendly option for completing homework could be key to their success.
For many students, their smartphone is their best device for school work including essays and applying to colleges.
2. Accessibility standards
Ensure the solution you’re exploring meets digital accessibility standards (such as those created by the ADA), including, but not limited to: Captions on videos, text-to-speech integrations, and more.
Here’s a great resource from the Center on Technology and Disability for education leaders.
3. Clear language
Make sure you’re choosing an app that meets students where they are. A tool designed and written for university students, for example, may have complex language and functionality not needed for your grade eight students. You can use tools like the Hemingway App to get an estimate on the readability level of the ‘welcome page’ or set up of a product you’re considering.
4. Ease of use
Ease of use is always important.
When considering a level playing field for students, any tool where students can get by on their own and capture learning in a versatile way is critical. If documenting learning and uploading files is time-consuming or tricky, students will be less likely to use the product as often as you may like.
Depending on the class you teach, you may need to look for different levels of complexity and make accommodations for students. Special education classes, K-3, and high schoolers would each have different requirements to consider.
5. Free for students
Last but not least, ensure you provide an option that is free for students. Any tool that requires your students to pay out of pocket for access or even allows them to pay for upgrades or customizations could give students with more disposable income more opportunities to make a stronger digital portfolio.
To promote equitable access to technology, educators must implement clear guidelines for expectations, encourage reflection, and standardize a single tool across the classroom. By making sure everyone is working within the same system, all learners, regardless of their background or access to resources, can have an equal opportunity to showcase student learning. SpacesEDU is one digital portfolio solution that meets the criteria for equity and offers a range of features, such as portfolio templates that cater to the diverse needs and learning experiences of students.
When educators intentionally choose and embrace technology that prioritizes equity, they lay the groundwork for a more inclusive learning environment. It’s about giving every student a fair shot at success and ensuring they have the tools to get there. At the end of the day, equity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a commitment. Using the advantages of portfolio assessment and choosing tech tools with equitable assessment practices in mind is a strong first step.
