Student Online Portfolio Website

Maintaining a portfolio gives a student the opportunity to document and assess their progress in school. In doing so, a folio becomes a learning tool to help students understand the importance of what they’re studying and see their own progress unfold in real time. Oftentimes, students don’t recognize the progress they’re making at school, and get frustrated when they hit stumbling blocks. Seeing the trajectory of one’s schoolwork can serve as positive reinforcement for a student.

Portfolios also help teachers and parents assess students’ progress. Aside from being a student learning tool, a folio can also stand as a measure of a teacher’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, for parents, a folio gives a better understanding of how well their child is coping in school and what they need to improve. In essence, a digital folio is both a way of facilitating learning and assessing what works and what doesn’t for both students and teachers.

On the other hand, portfolios are also useful tools for graduating students interested in the visual arts. Many visual arts colleges require some kind of documentation of an applicant’s skills, and with a decent portfolio, a student boosts their chances of getting into the college of their choice.

When you create a portfolio, you want to make sure you’re featuring the very best of your work. You’re documenting your progress, whether as a student or an artist, so you need to make sure you create a “highlight reel” of your achievements. Aim to showcase works that marked some kind of growth in your academic performance or your artistic skill.

However, you must also remember that a portfolio is more than just a place to dump work. It’s a learning opportunity. Thus, each sample should come with a written reflection. Try to share as much as you can, including how you conceived your project, your creative process, and suggestions for improvement.

Students can organize their portfolios by creating pages dedicated to each subject and galleries for each project. They can choose templates that let them caption their work and create and link to blogs where they can further reflect on their progress.

Should a Student Create a Portfolio Website?

Yes! As you’ve gathered, online folios can be excellent learning tools for students.

As for which platform to use, there is a myriad of options. Many teachers like to use Google apps such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, since it’s easy to upload and share files with these. Other teachers prefer education-focused tools like the now defunct Three Ring and GoEnnounce.

Aside from Google apps, Three Ring, and GoEnnounce, students can also make use of website builders such as Format. The main advantage of using a site builder like Format is that it allows students to familiarize themselves with what it takes to build professional digital portfolios. Rather than settling for student accounts, students have free rein to personalize their folios and transform them into professional websites later on.