My "Online Portfolio Adventure"
(Versions of my online portfolios developed using different systems or online publishing tools)

by Dr. Helen C. Barrett (a work in process, begun in 2004, last updated April 17, 2010 - 33 tools to date)

Introduction to this Study Overview of Tools Detail of Tools & Links to Portfolios Category of Tools

Introduction to this Study

I am an advocate of using common tools to build electronic portfolios. At certain points in the process, most electronic portfolio artifacts are created with common desktop tools. The challenge has been the authoring/organizing software. My past work has focused on publishing these portfolios on CD-ROM, which means the most appropriate organizing tool for me was Adobe Acrobat. I am now exploring the online publication options. So, I have designed new electronic portfolio content (mostly links to documents that I already have online) and am re-creating my online portfolio on different systems, using that same content. I am following my own advice from my 1990 dissertation:

"When learning new tools, use familiar tasks; when learning new tasks, use familiar tools."

I should note that there are some issues with publishing portfolios online. Some of the systems that I have tried to date are not password-protected (except TypePad, which I chose not to require a password to view). An ideal system would allow password protection at several levels: the entire site, individual artifacts, etc.). Confidentiality is a major issue, especially with young children and those who want to keep their reflections private. The other real issue is the requirement for network access to edit the entries. While access to broadband Internet is becoming more ubiquitous, access is still a real digital divide issue. The quality of video streamed over the WWW is still poor (see my next publising format, DVD, below). Still, online portfolios seem to be the trend, so I am spending this time educating myself. With my blogging experience, this is a natural extension.

I am exploring different online portfolio systems, free web server space or other strategies for developing online electronic portfolios. My purpose is to find options that are most appropriate for high schools and average individuals who are not associated with a higher education institution. Below are the versions that I have developed so far. Each one includes a reflection on how I developed the original portfolio content using an Excel Spreadsheet, using comments to record my reflections on why I selected each of the 21 artifacts. I assigned them to categories, and created collections or pages for each category. Most of my online portfolio is in a text format right now, partly because of the online publishing medium and partly because I did not want to put a lot of new large graphic files online.As I try other tools, the capability to add images will be explored. Three of my artifacts are digital video clips that I have already posted online.

Part of my experiment is seeing how intuitive the system is to learn. I know a lot about e-portfolios. I also know how I learn (I did a dissertation on how people teach themselves how to use personal computers). I need a concrete, hands-on experience (I am an accommodator -- active/concrete learner, according to the Kolb LSI). A demonstration doesn't cut it for me; that has been part of the research process: I wanted to see what the average learner sees.

Here is a summary of the portfolios by category with links to the portfolio site. Those versions in bold face are my favorites in each category; those in italics are in two categories. The versions followed by an * require a passcode to view, so I have linked to the downloaded version stored on my server.

Open Source Tools

Free Web Site Builder
with Free WebSpace

Commercial
Teacher Ed

 Commercial
Higher Ed

CMS (Content Management System)

 Blog Software & Web 2.0 Tools In-house-developed systems
Mozilla Composer GeoCities FolioLive iWebfolio * Userland Manila WordPress Maricopa CC MyEport
KEEP Toolkit Tripod (Trellix) TaskStream   Plone TypePad (Movable Type) PLP
OSPI   LiveText Blackboard Blackboard BlogWave Studio eFolio Minnesota
WordPress  Think.com (K12 only) FolioTek *  TaskStream  Drupal  WikiSpaces  Epsilen
Elgg         GoogleDocs (Document & Presentation) DigiCation

Overview of Tools

The portfolios were developed in the following order with the tools indicated. I have specific reflections on each strategy posted on the reflections page on each site as well as in my blog. Here is an overview of the systems that I explored. These are the characteristics I am addressing:

Tool
Custom-designed Electronic
Portfolio
Free Online Server Space
Open Source Software
Commercial Software & Market
Content Management
System (CMS)
Web Log Software or Journal
Cost
License agreement with:
Hosting
Storage
MyEport (Maricopa CC system)
X
 
 
 
 
(included)
N/A
N/A
hosted
(server limit)
Manila
 
 
 
Any
X
(news)
$499/server/year
institution
server
(server limit)
Geocities
 
X
 
 
 
 
Free
individual
hosted
15 MB
Mozilla Composer
 
 
X
 
 
 
Free
individual
either
(server limit)
WordPress
 
 
X
 
 
X
Free
individual
server
(server limit)
TypePad (based on Movable Type - MT)
 
 
 
Any
 
X
$5-$15/month
individual
(MT- either)
hosted
(server-MT)
50-200MB
BlogWave Studio
(requires .Mac account)
 
 
 
Any
 
X
$20+ .Mac account
individual
hosted .Mac account
250 MB
PLP
(program adoption only)
X (A)
free to programs, charge to individuals
 
 
 
 
Free to programs $15/semester per person
institution
hosted
100 MB
Plone CMS
(published on objectis.net)
 
 
X
 
X
(news)
Free
either
either
10 MB
(or server limit)
MNSCU
(Minnesota residents only)
X
 
 
 
 
 
Free
individual
hosted
3 MB
FolioLive (McGraw-Hill)
X (A)
 
 
TEd
 
 
$35/year
individual
hosted
25 MB
TaskStream
X (A)
 
 
TEd
 
$20/semester
either
hosted
100 MB
Blackboard Content System
X
 
 
HiEd
X
 
$10K/year
institution
server
20 MB
College LiveText
X (A)
    
TEd
    
$79/3 years
individual
hosted
unlimited?
FolioTek
X (A)
 
 
TEd
 
(journal)
$30/year
institution
hosted
50 MB
Nuventive's iWebfolio
X
    
HiEd
    
$45-$50
? 
hosted
50-100 MB
Tripod SiteBuilder (Trellix)  
X
      
X
Free
individual
hosted
20 MB
Apple's iWeb      
X
  
X
part of iLife06
individual
either
.Mac limit
Think.com (Oracle)
X
K12
Free for schools
institution
hosted
?
WikiSpaces  
X
  
K12
  
Wiki
Free for schools
individual
hosted
2 GB
Digication X           First 1000 free individual hosted ?
WordPress.com           X Free individual hosted 50 MB
Epsilen X         X Free to .edu individual hosted 75 MB
KEEP Toolkit X           Free individual hosted ?
GoogleDocs-Document   X         Free individual hosted ?
PowerPoint & LecShare             Office + $69 individual either server limit
My eCoach        X    X $35 individual hosted 100 MB
Zoho Writer   X         Free individual hosted ?
Elgg     X     X Free either either ?
GooglePages             Free either hosted 10 MB per file
GoogleDocs-Presentation   X         Free either hosted 100 MB
Tags with del.icio.us   X         Free either hosted ?
PBWiki     X       Free either hosted 10 MB
Buzzword   X         Free either hosted ?
Google Sites   X         Free either hosted 10 GB
Personal Brain             Free individual either ?
iWork (Keynote on iPad)   X   X     $9.99 individual hosted 1 GB
Tools below are not completed - information only
Open Source Portfolio
X
  
 X
  
 
  
Free
either
server
(server limit)
ePortaro
X
    
HiEd
  
 requires custom template
 $10/user/year for 1,000 users - lower for more users
institution
either
 20 MB or server limit on self-hosted server
Tool
Custom-designed Electronic
Portfolio
Free Online
Server Space
Open Source Software
Commercial Software & Market
Content Management
System (CMS)
Web Log Software or Journal
Cost
License agreement with:
Hosting
Storage

Detail of Tools & Links to Portfolios (in chronological order)

Below is a summary of each tool that I used to re-create my portfolio. I provide a link to the system website, and the portfolio that I created with the software/service/strategy, along with my contemporaneous reflections recorded in my blog. If the portfolio is not accessible to the public, I include a link to the downloaded version that I have stored on my own server (exactly as it was exported from the remote system). I also provided a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the software/service/strategy. Finally, I focus on the tutorials available or how to learn the software/service/strategy.

  1. MyEport developed by Maricopa Community Colleges - http://eport.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/published/h/ba/hbarrett/home/1/
    My reflection on the process (September 09, 2004) - downloaded version - 17 Screenshots (3.46MB PDF)
    Advantages: Very easy-to-learn interface, includes a site map overview of pages to easily navigate to any page in portfolio, includes blog, can require a password to view specific pages, download portfolio as HTML archive to disk
    Disadvantages: Server-based solution that is in development, not available for public use outside of Maricopa system, edit online
     
  2. Manila installed at Fairleigh Dickinson University - http://edfolio.fdu.edu/BarrettH/
    My reflection on the process (September 10, 2004)- no downloaded version - 7 Screenshots (2.17MB PDF)
    Advantages: Intuitive interface, automatically converts URLs to links, maintains inventory of uploaded files (gems), can include blog
    Disadvantages: Server-based solution for institutions, not individuals, $499 annual fee (academic price) to maintain, edit online
    Tutorials available: Manila Newbies, User Guide
     
  3. Geocities free website sponsored by Yahoo - http://www.geocities.com/helenbarrett/
    My reflection on the process (September 13, 2004)
    Advantages: FREE authoring and storage (15 MB), good page templates to use,
    Disadvantages: Ad supported, interface is slow and buggy, authoring only works with Windows-based browser, edit online, password-protecting pages requires knowledge of HTML
    Tutorials available: PageBuilder Tutorial, Yahoo Help Central,
     
  4. Mozilla Composer published on my own webspace - http://electronicportfolios.org/myportfolio/composer/
    Archived with Adobe Acrobat's Open Web Page feature (version 5)- http://electronicportfolios.org/myportfolio/PDFversion.pdf
    My reflection on the process (September 14, 2004)- 4 Screenshots (690KB PDF)
    Advantages: FREE authoring tool, can be used with any server, a vast improvement over previous Netscape Composer, edit offline
    Disadvantages: Requires knowledge of HTML publishing, requires server space for publishing, password-protecting pages requires knowledge of HTML
    Tutorials available: thesitewizard, Lehigh University, NC State College of Ed, MozillaQuest, UTexas (includes online video demos), UC Davis (PDF), University of Florida
     
  5. WordPress blogging software published on my own webspace - http://electronicportfolios.org/wordpress/index.php?cat=4
    My reflection on the process (September 14, 2004) - 6 Screenshots (1.25MB PDF)
    Updated Version using WordPress 2.0 (November 12, 2006) - http://electronicportfolios.info/blog/?page_id=7
    Updated Version using WordPress.com website (November 14, 2006) - http://hbarrett.wordpress.com/my-portfolio/
    Advantages: FREE blogging software, includes categories and sub-categories
    Disadvantages: Requires server space for authoring and publishing, only one blog per installation, edit online
    Tutorials available: Word Press Wiki, About.com
     
  6. TypePad blog software published on the TypePad server - http://eportfolios.typepad.com/info/
    My reflection on the process (September 14, 2004)- 10 Screenshots (2.0MB PDF)
    Advantages: Separate blogs to accommodate multiple sites, categories of entries, based on popular Movable Type (MT) server-based software, entire site can require a password to view
    Disadvantages: TypePad is a hosted fee service after trial period. MT is available in multiple versions, free for individual to install on individual servers, but $99 for unlimited users (very reasonable price), edit online
    Tutorials available: About.com
     
  7. BlogWave Studio for .Mac accounts - http://homepage.mac.com/eportfolios/blogwavestudio/index.html
    My reflection on the process (September 15, 2004)- 5 Screenshots (1.05MB PDF)
    Advantages: Mac-like interface, very intuitive, built-in image editor, integrated with iLife software, edit offline
    Disadvantages: Requires .Mac subscription ($99/year for 250MB of storage) plus software costs $20
    Tutorial available: ten screen recording videos available on website
     
  8. Personal Learning Plan by National Institutes for Community Innovations (NICI) - includes standards alignment- http://www.learningcentral.org/plp/iste/
    My reflection on the process (September 20, 2004)- 7 Screenshots (1.46MB PDF)
    Advantages: part of a larger, standards-based system, allows for feedback, standards alignment, security can be set at different levels
    Disadvantages: Does not automatically convert URLs to links (must enter HTML to get links), is only available for campus or school adoption (not for individuals) through the National Institutes for Community Innovations
     
  9. Plone (Open-Source Content Management System hosted by www.objectis.org) - http://eportfolios.objectis.net/
    My reflection on the process (September 20, 2004)- 10 Screenshots (2.16MB PDF)
    Advantages: Intuitive interface, maintains inventory of uploaded files (contents), automatically produces page with links to collections, control over privacy of each document
    Disadvantages: Requires zope on webserver, edit online, free server (objectis.org) only allows 10 MB storage
    Tutorials Available: Online documentation, wiki, Gentle introduction
     
  10. eFolioMinnesota hosted by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and developed by Avenet- http://helenbarrett.efoliomn2.com/index.asp
    My reflection on the process (September 23, 2004)- 13 Screenshots (2.74MB PDF)
    Advantages: Relatively intuitive interface, automatically sizes uploaded images, comprehensive resume builder, choice of layouts, ability to designate template or use standard templates for educators, students, careers; extensive security options (can password-protect each page)
    Disadvantages: edit online, free server only allows 3 MB storage, limited control over location of images, attachments, unless coded in HTML; essentially an extended resume/presentation portfolio
    Tutorials Available: Online tour
     
  11. FolioLive - a commercial tool developed by McGraw-Hill - includes standards-based templates- http://eportfolios.foliolive.com
    My reflection on the process (September 25, 2004)- downloaded version - 9 Screenshots (2.74MB PDF)
    Advantages: .two versions of portfolio: one for teachers, another for students; faculty can provide feedback via e-mail on specific portfolio pages; server allows 25 MB storage; download portfolio to hard drive for burning to CD; Manage Artifacts and File Management area (inventory)
    Disadvantages: edit online;Cost: $37.50 a year or purchase bundled with a McGraw-Hill textbook, very plain templates, little control over screen appearance;
    Tutorials Available: Online demo
     
  12. TaskStream - commercial system that also includes teacher tools and standards alignment- http://www.taskstream.com/ts/barrett5/portfolio.html -
    My reflection on the process (September 27, 2004)- downloaded version - 11 Screenshots (2.04MB PDF)
    Second version (using new WebFolio Builder templates, July 25, 2006) http://www.taskstream.com/main/?/barrett5/ProfessionalPortfolio2.html
    My reflection on the process-updated - new downloaded version
    Advantages: .faculty can provide feedback, download portfolio to hard drive--pack-it-up (5 per year); server allows 100 MB storage; many other teacher tools available (rubric builder, lesson plan creator, internal communication system)
    Disadvantages: edit online, editing tools for Mac users only using Safari, Cost: $20 per student for a semester, $65 for two years
    Tutorials Available: Online demo
     
  13. Blackboard's e-portfolio within Content System - version online
    My reflection on the process (September 30, 2004)- downloaded version - 27 Screenshots (4.26MB PDF)
    Advantages: WebDAV method for uploading files, download portfolio to Zip file,
    Disadvantages: edit online, no formatting tools, HTML files need to be edited outside the system to get formatting, $10K per year on top of Blackboard installation for entire Content System, did not download all linked documents.
    Tutorial Available:
     
  14. College LiveText - a commercial system that includes teacher tools and standards alignment- http://college.livetext.com/doc/475819/
    My reflection on the process (October 01, 2004)- downloaded version - 8 Screenshots (1.77MB PDF)
    Advantages: faculty can provide feedback, server allows unlimited storage; many other teacher tools available (rubric builder, lesson plan creator, internal communication system), export to ZIP file
    Disadvantages: edit online, no editing tools for Mac users, Cost $79 per student for three years, no shorter term available
    Tutorial Available: Online demo available once account is purchased; also on CD
     
  15. FolioTek - a commercial system developed by Lanit Consulting - viewing the presentation portfolio requires a visitor passcode
    My reflection on the process (October 02, 2004)- downloaded version - 18 Screenshots (3.64MB PDF)
    Advantages: faculty can provide feedback, includes an inventory of uploaded files
    Disadvantages: viewing the presentation portfolio requires a visitor passcode
     
  16. NuVentive's iWebfolio - a commercial system developed to accompany TracDat, an assessment management system. - viewing the presentation portfolio requires a visitor passcode
    My reflection on the process (October 10, 2004)- downloaded version - 21 Screenshots (6.12MB PDF)
    Advantages: includes an inventory of uploaded files
    Disadvantages: viewing the presentation portfolio requires a visitor passcode, downloaded version uses frames in HTML (not sec. 508 compliant)
     
  17. Tripod powered by Trellix - a free website sponsored by Lycos - http://e-portfolios.tripod.com/
    My reflections on the process (October 18, 2004)- 17 Screenshots (4.25MB PDF)
    Advantages: FREE authoring and storage (20 MB), variety of page templates to use, relatively easy to use, no knowledge of HTML needed
    Disadvantages: Edit online, Ad supported, interface is slow
     
  18. Apple's iWeb - a web page development tool (part of iLife06) - http://web.mac.com/hbarrett/iWeb/Portfolio/Welcome.html
    My reflection on the process (June 27, 2006)
    Advantages: Highly creative tool integrated with other Apple's iLife06 tools (iPhoto, GarageBand, iTunes, iMovie)
    Disadvantages: Tightly linked with .Mac accounts, problems with uploading process. If no .Mac account, then requires web server space for publishing.
     
  19. Think.com - a free service by Oracle to K12 schools. - (Print Preview of pages) This portfolio can only be viewed within the Think.com community.
    My reflection on the process (July 25, 2006)- 13 pages (685K PDF)
    Advantages: Free website builder, service of Oracle to K12 Education Community. Provides interactivity tools and stickie notes to facilitate communication & feedback. Very nice tool for K-8 schools. Protected site - not accessible outside the community. Teacher has control over all student sites. Includes internal e-mail.
    Disadvantages: Edit online. Requires school agreement (not available to individuals), cannot export portfolio (except by printing to file). No data aggregation tools, simply a website builder
     
  20. WikiSpaces - a free service for K12 education (or ad-supported) - http://eportfolios.wikispaces.com/
    My reflection on the process (July 26, 2006)- downloaded version
    Advantages: Free website builder for K12 schools, collaborative writing tool. Allows members to edit pages. Backup all files to computer. Maintains hyperlinks but not navigation menu. Minimal WYSIWYG editor, 2 GB storage on free accounts.
    Disadvantages: Edit online. Not standard HTML code, not as intuitive as other tools. No data aggregation tools, simply an interactive website builder.
     
  21. DigiCation - a tool built by faculty of RISD - http://spotlight.digication.com/eportfolios/Welcome/
    My reflection on the process (October 5, 2006)
    Advantages: A free service (for the first 1000 students in a school). Easy to use, preset templates.
    Disadvantages: A very early beta version of the tool. No data aggregation tools, simply an interactive website builder.
     
  22. WordPress.com (version 2)- an online blogging tool - http://hbarrett.wordpress.com/my-portfolio/ (installed version http://electronicportfolios.info/blog/?page_id=7)
    My reflection on the process (November 12, 2006)
    Advantages: A FREE blogging software, includes categories, sub-categories, pages and sub-pages, Interactivity through comments in blog
    Disadvantages: Edit online. No data aggregation tools, simply an interactive website builder.
     
  23. Epsilen - a free ePortfolio for higher education - http://afhcb.alaska.epsilen.info/
    My reflection on the process (January 18, 2007)
    Advantages: A free tool for EDU email addresses. Different levels of permissions for showing pages and items on pages.Includes a blog.
    Disadvantages: Awkward user interface. No data aggregation tools. 75MB maximum storage.
     
  24. KEEP Toolkit - open source software from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning - http://www.cfkeep.org/html/stitch.php?s=77904125468716&id=45888824710519
    My reflection on the process (January 18, 2007)
    Advantages: A free, open source tool with several developed templates. Stitch together multiple pages into a common navigation bar. Create multiple views.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools, awkward URL naming
     
  25. GoogleDocs-Document - free word processing on the WWW from Google - http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd76m5s2_0fjj4h9
    My reflection on the process (March 7, 2007)
    Advantages: A free, web-based tool available from Google.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools; awkward URL naming; for multi-page portfolio, must create links and navigation
     
  26. PowerPoint & LecShare Pro - common tools with conversion software - http://electronicportfolios.org/myportfolio/LecShare/
    My reflection on the process (June 3, 2007)
    Advantages: Ubiquitous authoring tool available on most personal computers. Conversion software creates multiple versions, including video and accessible HTML versions.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools, requires web server space for publishing.
     
  27. My eCoach - online system for teachers to create a variety of web pages/resources - http://my-ecoach.com/project.php?id=10310
    My reflection on the process (June 6, 2007)
    Advantages: Relatively low cost ($35 for lifetime membership), connect pages in portfolio to standards, comments on pages add interactivity, embed audio and video on pages, web page building tools, community of learners to provide resources and feedback
    Disadvantages: Awkward URL naming; for multi-page portfolio, All pages are public, 100 MB file storage limit, no inventory of uploaded files.
     
  28. ZOHO Writer - free prodctivity tools on the WWW - http://writer.zoho.com/public/eportfolios/MyPortfolio
    My reflection on the process (June 29, 2007)
    Advantages: A free, web-based tool available from Zoho, logical page naming
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools; for multi-page portfolio, must create links and navigation
     
  29. Elgg (Eduspaces) - Open Source social networking/blogging/presentation tool - http://eduspaces.net/helenb/presentations/517/clean
    My reflection on the process (August 27, 2007)
    Advantages: A free, open source tool that can be installed on a server. Creates Table of Contents to sections on a presentation. Includes blog and social networking.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools; not sure how to create multi-page hyperlinked presentation
     
  30. Google Pages - a free web page builder on the WWW - http://eportfolios.googlepages.com/home
    My reflection on the process (August 28, 2007)
    Advantages: A free tool available from Google. Very easy to create hyperlinked web pages.100 MB of data, including attachments. Listing of uploaded files in Site Manager.Standard page names.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools, not sure about interactivity and feedback.
     
  31. GoogleDocs- Presentation - a free presentation builder on the WWW - http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dd76m5s2_51d4n4v4&fs=true
    My reflection on the process (September 19, 2007)
    Advantages: A free tool available from Google. Very easy to convert Powerpoint slide show (maximum 10 MB). Sharing presentation via web browser, interactivity through Sharing function.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools; awkward URL naming.
  32. Tags with del.icio.us - a free social bookmarking tool - http://del.icio.us/eportfolios/myportfolio
    My reflection on the process (October 22, 2007)
    Advantages: A free tool available through Yahoo. Very easy to create a set of links to artifacts stored online. Might work for people who already have all of their artifacts online. Set up a network of users to share links and tags.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tool, no interactivity through this tool, no space to store artifacts (they must be already online in a online space). Not a good stand-alone ePortfolio tool.
  33. PBWiki - an ad-free wiki - http://hbarrett.pbwiki.com/portfolio
    My reflection on the process (October 29, 2007)
    Advantages: Free website builder, collaborative writing tool. Allows members to edit pages. Backup all files to computer. Maintains hyperlinks but not navigation menu. Minimal WYSIWYG editor. Export selected pages as "Portfolio" in PDF, Word, or presentation format.
    Disadvantages: Edit online. Not standard HTML code, not as intuitive as other tools. No data aggregation tools, simply an interactive website builder, limit of 10 MB storage on free accounts.
  34. Buzzword - free word processing on the WWW from Adobe -
    My reflection on the process (December 27, 2007)
    Advantages: A free, web-based tool available from Adobe.
    Disadvantages: No data aggregation tools; awkward URL naming; for multi-page portfolio, must create links and navigation, no public view (requires account)
  35. Google Sites - free website/wiki through Google - http://sites.helenbarrett.net/portfolio/
    My reflection on the process (September 6, 2008)
    Advantages: A free website builder, created under GoogleApps.
    Disadvantages: Edit online
  36. Personal Brain - http://electronicportfolios.org/myportfolio/personalbrain/index.html
    My reflection on the process (April 25, 2009)
    Advantages: mind map to organize and present the portfolio, download HTML view to host on server.
    Disadvantages: Any changes require re-editing online version, downloading again, posting changed version again.
  37. iWork (Keynote on iPad) - http://public.iwork.com/document/?a=p55173415&d=myportfolio-short.key
    My reflection on the process (April 17, 2010)
    Advantages: Use common tool (Powerpoint) converted to iWork on iPad.
    Disadvantages: Versioning when changes are made.

Category of ePortfolio Authoring, Publishing, and Assessment Tools

Individual Institutional
Authoring Tools Static Web Services Interactive Web Services Software - Server required Hosted Services Assessment Systems
- Hosted Services

Mozilla Composer

Dreamweaver, FrontPage or any web authoring tool

Apple's iWeb

Powerpoint & Lecshare Pro

Adobe Acrobat

MovieMaker2, iMovie, or any video editing tool

WordPress (blog)

WikiSpaces
PB Wiki

GoogleDocs - Document and Presentation

ZOHO Writer

EduSpaces (Elgg)

Google Sites

Userland's Manila

Blackboard
(old: Content System and new: Vista/CE)

Open Source tools:
Elgg, Mahara, Moofolio, OSPI, MyStuff (U.K.)

Open Source Content Management Systems: Plone, Drupal

Digication

Think.com (K12 school accounts only)

nuVentive's iWebfolio

GoogleApps for Education

Pupil Pages (K12)

Epsilen

My eCoach
These are tools that can be used to author portfolios (offline), but require web server space to publish online. Portfolios created with these tools can also be published on CD-R or DVD-R. No interactivity* These are static web services that an individual or institution may use to create and publish a presentation portfolio - little or no interactivity* (Web 1.0) These are dynamic web services that an individual or institution may use to create and publish a presentation portfolio AND allows interactivity* (Web 2.0) These are systems that an institution would install on their own server to provide space for hosting portfolios. Interactivity* but NO data management system** These are systems that an institution adopts (no server required) that host portfolios. Usually supports interactivity* but NO data management** or reporting systems There are hosted systems that an institution would adopt (no server required) that will allow hosting portfolios, facilitates interactivity, and includes a data management** and reporting system for assessment

*Interactivity allows dialogue and feedback in the portfolio, either through comments or collaborative editing
Level of Interactivity: Lower < - - - - - - - - - - - - > Higher

 **Data management system allows collection of evaluation data about portfolios,
and can produce reports aggregating quantitative data
Level of Personalization and Creativity for the Portfolio Developer:
Higher < - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Lower

Systems/Software I am planning to try:

Initially, I focused on free or open source tools. Eventually, I looked at some of the commercial systems. If you want me to try out your system, send me a URL, userID and password, and I will explore its capabilities. Because most of my artifacts are links, rather than documents to be uploaded, the entire portfolio will fit on a floppy diskette (what's that?). I created a PDF archive of the first three levels of the Mozilla version of this portfolio, with all of the artifacts except the three video clips, and the PDF file is less than 1.5 MB.

My next publishing environment will be DVD, because of the richness of the video that can be put on there. Apple has published an online tutorial: http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/portfolio/ for using iDVD for creating a professional portfolio. Their version of a portfolio is for the creative professional, to showcase their work to a potential employer. In education, we most often have other purposes. In fact, the first question to ask is, What is the purpose for this portfolio? Purpose drives all other decisions, including which tools to use, which content to include, etc. In my opinion, Apple's tutorial covers the technical skills very well, but does not address the pedagogical issues in schools.

©2004, Helen C. Barrett, Ph.D.
Modified April 17, 2010