What are the Advantages of Student Digital Portfolios?
What are the Disadvantages of Student Digital Portfolios?
- Accessibility:
- Portfolios in digital format can be easily and inexpensively reproduced therefore materials can be made available to a wider audience e.g., burning onto CD-ROM
- Can be accessible from multiple locations and by many individuals simultaneously e.g., on the WWW
- Portability: Easier to transport than hard copy versions.
- Creativity: New non-linear formats and the integration of various media types allow students many ways to creatively express their professional knowledge and skills.
- Technology:
- Digital portfolios are one of the best ways for students to communicate their knowledge and expertise related to their use of technology
- Students can demonstrate proof of their technical skills while also displaying their ability to apply technology in the creation of multimedia presentations, software programs and the like
- Self-confidence: Building technology skills and fostering self-confidence in their own abilities.
- Community: Sharing ideas and resources.
What are the Disadvantages of Student Digital Portfolios?
- The creation of digital portfolios requires advanced knowledge and skills and sometimes expensive, high-tech equipment.
- Viewing a digital portfolio sometimes requires special software as well as additional knowledge and skills on the part of the viewer.
- Technology can often obstruct the view of students’ REAL accomplishments by using too many ‘bells and whistles’.
- Be aware of the possibility of plagiarism as it may be easier to use your information as it is already in a digital format and easily copied and pasted or saved onto another person’s computer.