RETA Curriculum Digital Portfolios

Digital Portfolios: Student Guide

Here's Looking at You!

The Mission

Have you ever been asked to talk about yourself and didn't know what to say? Or, have you tried to introduce yourself and your interests but said something totally weird? Most of us have a difficult time introducing and talking about ourselves. By creating this portfolio, you'll always be prepared to talk about yourself in a positive and comfortable way. So, stop stuttering and start compiling! Put your best foot forward! Your face, too! Use this activity to showcase your talents, your accomplishments, and your interests.

Your mission begins when you collect several pieces of your best work, your funniest photos, your most treasured memories, and other memorabilia. Try to collect several things so you have plenty of items from which to choose. For more ideas on what to include, check in Your Job.

After collecting, organize your material into different categories and see if they have a central theme or an obvious title, such as "My Summer in 4-H" or "My Favorite Music."

When you have all your items organized, go to Supplies.

Supplies

Item Description: / Specific Instructions:
Several diskettes / Save scanned and typed files.
A Résumé or an Autobiography / Type and save for your portfolio
A paper File Folder to save your Project Entries / Label this folder with your full name and the lesson title. Staple the Stay on Track page to the inside front cover.
Computer Time / Sign up for times on the computer. See your teacher for the schedule.
Selected examples of your work / Choose your "best" work to represent yourself.

Your Job

To complete your digital portfolio, you will need to use a computer. Carefully carry out these five tasks:

  1. Create an autobiography or résumé and save it on your diskette.
  2. Scan and save copies of your best work; which can include (but is not limited to) a combination of these things:
  • A Writing Sample [essay, poetry, research paper, short story, etc.]
  • An Art Sample [pencil, ink or chalk drawing, a computer created image, a painting, a collage, photos, etc.]
  • One or two graded homework/classwork assignments
  • A mathematics and/or science project that you are proud of.
  • Any Awards that you'd like to include. [Take a photograph or scan them.]
  • Other things that show who you are. [family, friends, pets, etc.]
  • Create and save Folders on your diskettes. You can title the categories with whatever makes sense for you, but here are a few samples:
  • Personal Information
  • Family & Friends
  • Pets or Trips or Parties
  • School Work and involvements (Yearbook, sports, etc.)
  • Clubs [such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Chorus, 4-H, etc.]
  • Awards
  • Hobbies
  1. Organize your files into categories. Put the files into their appropriate folders.
  2. Make a PowerPoint, HyperStudio, KidPix or other electronic presentation showing off your collection.
  3. Save it on a diskette or burn it on a CD.

When you are finished, you will have a Digital Portfolio of yourself! Make lots of copies and send them to your friends and family.

Digging Deeper!

Whose portfolio would you like to see? Is it available on the World Wide Web? What kinds of people traditionally made portfolios? Where did they originate? What kinds of things can portfolios be used to show off?

Write some questions of your own that you would like to have answered.

Resources

  • Digital Portfolios (
  • Hotmail e-mail site (
  • Portfolio Guidelines (
  • Planning Your Portfolio (

Words to Know

categories / digital / document / journal / portfolio / résumé / showcase

The next page is a matrix for keeping track of your tasks. Put it in your folder and check off the steps as you complete them.

Student Name: ______

Stay On Track

Place this page in your folder or journal. The purpose of the document is to help you "Stay on Track" with the tasks. You can add components to the table if you need to.

Did I create a journal entry? / Completion Date: / My Score: / Comments:
Created and saved on my diskette an autobiography or résumé. / Yes
No
Scanned and saves copies of my best work. / Yes
No
Created and saved Folders on my diskettes. Put the files into their appropriate folders. / Yes
No
Made a PowerPoint, HyperStudio, KidPix or other electronic presentation showing off myself. / Yes
No

Copyright 2000 New Mexico Regional Educational Technology Assistance Program