E-Portfolios in Elementary

[tmercer]

Are any of you using E-Portfolios in the elementary school setting?  If so are there specific grade level requirements.  Do you use them mainly to showcase projects or a combination of that and required competencies?  I have searched a bit and couldn't find much here on Canvas.  If anyone is using them already I would love to pick your brain.  If you are thinking about jumping in and want to pair up I'd love to team up.

[Bobby2]

 @tmercer  we are new to using Canvas here in Tasmania. But we can see huge potential for the ePortfolios‌. As our eLearning team is out and about supporting schools with Blended Learning and Canvas if we spot any ideas we will keep you posted. For now some ideas that have been suggested are:

• ePortfolios used by the teachers to keep copies of writing/work samples, running records, diagnostic testing for the following year teacher or for specialists and leadership to access
• students keep work samples each year, including art, writing, maths, reading aloud, to create a 'time capsule' when they leave primary school
• teachers use their ePortfolio as evidence collection for their annual reviews

I'm sure there are loads more ideas out there. Tip of the iceberg here.

[GideonWilliams]

Hey Bobby, have you seen Mahara ePortfolio?

Used this in my last place with Moodle. Notice that Mahar is now integrating with Canvas via LTI - https://community.canvaslms.com/thread/17757-mahara-eportfolio-lti from post by Julien Ridden.

I loved using Mahara ePortfolio features. Allowed students to be very creative indeed.

[Bobby2]

I shall have a jolly good look.  Thanks Gideon .

[GideonWilliams]

Do you have Canvas Support in Tasmania or is it all based in Sydney? That is where Julien Ridden is based I believe...

[Bobby2]

I think Sydney.

Deactivated userhas been hosting some fabulous webinars for us.

[rjacklin]

Our Middle School uses paper portfolios with students but haven't yet made the leap to the digital portfolios in Canvas. I'm curious how schools are organizing folders in the portfolio so as to make them easy to develop a showcase which students could use for conferences as well as revisiting for longitudinal progress throughout their time in our building.

Wondering if there are storage maxes with regards to how much content can be uploaded into a students account folder, apart from the course files?

Like Bobby mentioned above, the possibilities are endless. Just wondering if anyone is developing any practices that they are excited about?

[9927890]

We are using the ePortfolios at the high-school level for our capstone research process and find them very user friendly to set up and navigate.  Soon, we will start using the ePortfolios for our art students as well.  I think it would be a great tool for your upper elementary students to show growth and I'll be happy to share my experience with you.

[rjacklin]

Hi Anne - Wondering how much of the student work is imported/uploaded to Canvas (scanned course work, art, images of projects, etc) versus content inside of Canvas (Quizzes, discussions, etc.)?

[9927890]

Hi Rob,

We uploaded all of the content to Canvas files.  We found that it was easiest to have students grab the content there when building the ePortfolios as opposed to trying to find it from course submissions.  You could definitely have external tools via embed codes as well.  I don't know what the limit is on file size is within Canvas so that's something to keep in mind when designing your ePortfolios. 

Best,

Anne

[jayoder]

Do you know of any links that actually show what a student ePortfolio should look like when complete in Canvas...I am having a hard time envisioning what it should look like. The set up screen leaves too much to the imagination. 

[tmercer]

We are using Course Networking as a course within Canvas.  I will keep you posted on how we progress!

[9927890]

Would you all be willing to consider up-voting this feature and sharing it with others if you think it would be helpful to you in your institution?

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/10801-add-in-line-file-preview-to-eportfolios

[tom_wandrum]

I teach 5th grade and my students create digital portfolios using Google Sites.  I post their requirements in Canvas and examples for them to follow.  The portfolios serve two main purposes.  They showcase projects but they also use the portfolio to monitor their owning learning and it provides them a way to track their growth.  I would be glad to share any resources I have with you.  

[9927890]

Thanks, Tom!  I think that is a wonderful solution.  I would love to see some of your student portfolios and how you set them up.  Would you be willing to shoot me an email at anne.thiers@cherokee.k12.ga.us>? 

Google is blocked wirelessly at our school district so Google Sites aren't something we can use at this point but that doesn't mean we wouldn't be able to at some point in the future. 

[tom_wandrum]

I can't believe Google Apps are blocked!  They are so educational.  I use to use Weebly and I've even used Wix in the past.  Next year, I may switch to Adobe Spark.  I will send you the directions I give my students in Canvas and a couple examples of their portfolios.  

[bronner_t]

Hi!  I am looking into starting eportfolios for my fifth graders this year using google sites.  I was wondering if you had any advice or suggestions for me.  I would love to see your resources.  Feel free to email me.  bronner_t@cneschools.org   Thank you so much!

Tracy

[GideonWilliams]

Heard good things about Seesaw Seesaw especially with iPad.

We are using this in one of our Junior schools (K-5). Would you like me to find out more?

[tmercer]

We are using Course Networking as an LTI with Canvas as the platform for these.  Thanks for all the suggestions.

[TomZamzow]

Have you made progress with using E-Portfolio at the Elementary level?