The sheer accessibility and almost limitless potential of ICT should by now see most schools having made the move from paper-based folder portfolios to Interactive ePortfolios.
Contained below are many approaches, resources, software and app reviews for schools, teachers and students that should support and engage them in their development of ICT enriched Interactive ePortfolios.
Contained below are many approaches, resources, software and app reviews for schools, teachers and students that should support and engage them in their development of ICT enriched Interactive ePortfolios.
A Purposeful Collation
In her TedxTalk, Dr Helen Barrett ("The Grandmother of ePortfolios", Apple Distinguished Educator, George Lucas Educational Foundation Faculty Associate and European Institute For eLearning Lifetime Achievement Award winner for her contribution to ePortfolio research and development) discusses that Interactive ePortfolios are a reflection of the student as a person undergoing continuous personal development and thusly should primarily be used to showcase student ability by:
Dr Barrett also discusses that Interactive ePortfolios should be a collection of over a student's lifetime, rather than a new portfolio for each year. This makes complete sense, as students should be able to demonstrate through student-led conferences or teachers through traditional parent-teacher interviews, growth throughout the years. Imagine being able to show parents a video or audio recording of:
It is important to note that Interactive ePortfolios should be student-managed not teacher-managed, as it is the role of the teacher to guide students in the use of ICT tools that capture and collate student work and then give poignant advice and feedback that will led to rich reflection, student-goal setting and greater future learning, as well as developing in students ownership and responsibility of the ePortfolio and the chance to experience pride in their accomplishments.
- storing documents
- having students reflect on learning
- having teachers provide feedback for improvement (which is often forgotten).
Dr Barrett also discusses that Interactive ePortfolios should be a collection of over a student's lifetime, rather than a new portfolio for each year. This makes complete sense, as students should be able to demonstrate through student-led conferences or teachers through traditional parent-teacher interviews, growth throughout the years. Imagine being able to show parents a video or audio recording of:
- a student reading aloud in Year 2 and then again in Year 4 to show an increase in their ability to read with fluency and expression
- a student's writing samples of a recount or narrative, and how the use of their vocabulary or sentence structure has improved over time.
It is important to note that Interactive ePortfolios should be student-managed not teacher-managed, as it is the role of the teacher to guide students in the use of ICT tools that capture and collate student work and then give poignant advice and feedback that will led to rich reflection, student-goal setting and greater future learning, as well as developing in students ownership and responsibility of the ePortfolio and the chance to experience pride in their accomplishments.
Planned, Rich and Authentic Reflection
To ensure that student portfolios are truly rich and authentic, schools, teachers and students should be part of a planned, consistent and an ongoing approach to collecting, collating, reflecting, evaluating and presenting student work.
At the start of each year, schools should have a ready-made template, and have clear and agreed upon expectations in regards to the differentiation of ePortfolio content throughout the school, that also caters for the differing levels of student and teacher ICT expertise.
At the start of each year, schools should have a ready-made template, and have clear and agreed upon expectations in regards to the differentiation of ePortfolio content throughout the school, that also caters for the differing levels of student and teacher ICT expertise.
Image © C.L.Webb
Schools and teachers should thoroughly plan the methodology and investigate the tools that will support the development of effective Interactive ePortfolios, including:
- Individual and collegial learning activities that will be rich examples of assessment for/as/of learning
- Targeted collection points
- Agreed expectations/standards for student reflection
- Interactive work samples/artifacts
- Hardware (iPads, iPhones, Android, Sony Bloggie HD Camera, etc.)
- Software
- Online storage (including Google Docs, Sheets and Slides) or online presentation solutions
- Planned and authentic assessment of Interactive ePortfolios.
Targeted Collection Points
Often, teachers and students can find themselves approaching the end of a term, semester or even a school year and having to madly dash to collate a series of examples of student work for ePortfolios. Yet such occurrences can have significant negative impacts on the quality of student reflection which is in direct opposition to the goals of the student portfolio: rich and authentic reflection.
Thus schools and teachers must thoroughly plan for the window of two collection points:
- During the each teaching and learning unit: Capture the moment that learning is occurring through photos, screen dumps, videos and links to rich blog, Twitter or Facebook discussions.
- At the end of each teaching and learning unit: Students and teachers should pause to reflect and celebrate student learning.
1. Individual Work Samples/Artefacts
Students should choose the piece(s) of work they are most proud of, the one that truly reflects their level of learning or the one they feel is the best example for their digital story telling/narrative. Alongside of the work sample(s) any rich portfolio student reflections should contain a:
- Learning Objective(s)
- Task Explanation
- Success Criteria (linked to learning objectives and standards), and
- Student Reflection (either ongoing during tasks or retrospectively).
- Future Learning Goal (a vision towards the next step/future) - Particularly useful for teachers and students when Interactive ePortfolios are collated over a number of years
A sample slide from a primary school student's (age 12) Interactive ePortfolio, containing a work sample, learning objective, task explanation, success criteria, an online student video tutorial and a reflection. Download the student's Interactive ePortfolio here.
Interactivity
Student work samples/artifacts should not be limited to scanned pieces of student work or screen dumps, but instead should take many interactive forms. Interactive ePortfolios should be exactly that, interactive! Students, teachers, parents and extended family members should be able to interact with the student's collection of work via the presence of various interactive multi-modal elements.
Such multi-modal elements include:
See below for examples of how various interactive multi-modal elements can be embedded into a student portfolio.
- Navigation: Hyperlinked hierarchy, buttons and text
- QR codes linked to online student work
- Videos (e.g. Playable student made tutorials, reflections, unit overviews, films, trailers and recitals)
- Audio/Podcasts (e.g. Playable examples of students reciting poetry, reading a narrative with appropriate tone & pace or orally reflecting upon their work)
- Downloadable eBooks (e.g. student published narratives, biographies or autobiographies)
- Browsable online student work (e.g. class work on Google Docs/Sheets or student projects and other files uploaded to Google Drive)
- Links to online student work: Blog posts and social networking interactivity between students, classmates, teachers and parents in the form of blog comments, Facebook posts and/or Twitter tweets.
See below for examples of how various interactive multi-modal elements can be embedded into a student portfolio.
Below: A QR code linked to student's blog.
Below: A student-made iMovie Trailer made after reading Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom.
Below : A playable student-made task overview (stored on GoogleDrive). Click on the picture or here to play.
Below: Downloadable eBooks - A biography written about a student's grandmother (eBook link removed for privacy reasons).
Download an eBook of a student's narrative here.
(Open in iBooks on IOS devices, BookReader on Mac, Moon+Reader on Android or Adobe Digital Editions on Windows/Mac).
Download an eBook of a student's narrative here.
(Open in iBooks on IOS devices, BookReader on Mac, Moon+Reader on Android or Adobe Digital Editions on Windows/Mac).
Below: Browsable online student work -a collaborative work task stored on a class blog and a Google Sheet.
Student Tutorial Videos
On her blog, Silvia Rosenthal Tosilano discusses that student tutorials are educationally rich as there are a variety of skills that students can develop, including:
Other Multi-modal Elements
Various other multi-modal elements should also be used, including features such as a Wordle to show development in a student's vocabulary.
On her blog, Silvia Rosenthal Tosilano discusses that student tutorials are educationally rich as there are a variety of skills that students can develop, including:
- Communication/verbal/language skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Creation skills
- Media skills
- Presentation skills
- Design skills
- Problem solving skills
- Empathy (How can I explain best, so someone else will understand better? How can I put myself into their shoes?)
Other Multi-modal Elements
Various other multi-modal elements should also be used, including features such as a Wordle to show development in a student's vocabulary.
2. Unit Overviews
Students should also conduct a retrospective overview of the teaching and learning unit, including:
Students should also conduct a retrospective overview of the teaching and learning unit, including:
- Completing, uploading or videoing capacity matrices to show evidence of learning
- Writing/typing/blogging unit overviews
- Filming unit overviews (using an digital camera) - watch an example here.
3. Uploading Student Work
Students must also upload the relevant work to the agreed upon storage solution and then create the hyperlinks to the work within the chosen Interactive Portfolio medium (e.g. PowerPoint, blogs or websites).
Students must also upload the relevant work to the agreed upon storage solution and then create the hyperlinks to the work within the chosen Interactive Portfolio medium (e.g. PowerPoint, blogs or websites).
The Shift to Online Solutions
With the prevalence of free online storage solutions, schools should be making the move away from burning DVDs or using USBs to send home student ePortfolios. By using online solutions, family members can then easily access and interact with student multi-modal work throughout the year, no matter where they are in the world.
However, before schools make the shift to online, they must consider:
However, before schools make the shift to online, they must consider:
- Redrafting policies, including Media Release Consent/Permission to Publish Forms (click to download a sample), as most school Media Release Consent Forms do not address the move towards cloud-based storage and the sharing of digital content with a local/national/global audience)
- Gauging parental support before making any student work and images potentially accessible by the general public (download a ready-made Interactive ePortfolio Parent Information and Permission Form)
- The approach: Online storage vs online presentation.
Online Storage vs Online Presentation
Schools should decide whether they wish to use the internet to store student work (which can then be hyperlinked to in PowerPoint Interactive ePortfolios) or present student work (in the form of a blog or website).
Powerpoint: Hyperlinked work (with large files stored online) Website/Blog: All content appears online.
Click here to view then download this Interactive ePortfolio. Image © Steven Lerouzic CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Click here to view then download this Interactive ePortfolio. Image © Steven Lerouzic CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
1 - Online Storage
Online storage accounts are relatively quick and easy for teachers, parents or students to set up an account linked to a student's school email address. However:
There are numerous free online storage solutions, each with various handy in-built apps and storage capacities. Some of these include:
- ICT coordinators must ensure that school email policies allow for incoming emails from external sources, to ensure that students are able to receive the account verification email
- An Online Services/Cloud Solutions Consent Form must be drafted by schools to seek parental permission.
There are numerous free online storage solutions, each with various handy in-built apps and storage capacities. Some of these include:
Google Drive provides users with 15GB of free online storage via a Google Account:
- 10GB file size limit
- Each Google Account is linked to Google Drive, YouTube, Google+, Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Mail, Google Calendar and Google News
- A Google Drive application can be downloaded onto Windows or Mac to sync files from a specified folder
- A Google Drive app is available from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices
- Each Google Account requires a mobile phone number during the sign-up process (incase a user forgets their password) which should be set to a parent's mobile phone number
- Videos can be hyperlinked to but cannot be embedded/streamed via html
- Download a Google Account Policy Parental Permission sample here.
Microsoft SkyDrive provides user with 7GB of free online storage via a Microsoft Account:
- 2GB file size limit
- A SkyDrive application can be downloaded onto Windows or Mac to sync files from a specified folder
- A SkyDrive app is available from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices.
- SkyDrives can work with various Windows 8 apps and Windows 7 programs
- Microsoft Accounts can be linked to Outlook, X-Box Live, Skype and Windows 8 PCs, phones and tablets.
Box provides personal users with 10GB of free online storage:
- 250MB file size limit
- Desktop sync for Windows and Mac
- A Box app is available from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices.
Dropbox provides users with 2GB of free online storage:
- 2GB file size limit
- Desktop sync for Windows and Mac
- A Dropbox app is available from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices.
2 - Online Presentation
There are a myriad of online presentation solutions for developing Interactive ePortfolios. Use the information below to determine which approach best suits your needs.
PowerPoint Online Solutions
Whilst most schools initial forays into digital portfolios involve the use of Microsoft PowerPoint, interactive ePortfolios can still be created ans shared online using PowerPoint and any of the following three options:
PowerShow
PowerShow allows users to upload (for free) PowerPoint presentations whilst retaining the function of embedded hyperlinks (links to other slides), transitions and animations.
Click on the image below to access an online interactive PowerPoint presentation (opens in a new window).
Click on the image below to access an online interactive PowerPoint presentation (opens in a new window).
Office Mix
Microsoft have released Office Mix, a new PowerPoint add-on that lets teachers create rich media presentations and interactive lessons and share them online.
Office Mix includes two components:
The plugin gives users the ability to record lecture materials directly within PowerPoint and embed multimedia and interactive elements, including:
Watch the videos below to learn more:
Office Mix includes two components:
- A downloadable plugin for PowerPoint (requires Microsoft Office 2013 SP1 or Office 365).
- A site where anyone can share their work and view analytics.
The plugin gives users the ability to record lecture materials directly within PowerPoint and embed multimedia and interactive elements, including:
- audio and video of the presenter
- on-screen annotations
- tests and quizzes
- online videos
- polls
- third-party tools, such as activities from Khan Academy and CK-12 Foundation.
Watch the videos below to learn more:
|
|
PowerPoint Online & OneDrive
PowererPoint Online by Microsoft allows users to embed PowerPoint presentations within a website or blog, to be viewed from within the browser and without having to have PowerPoint installed.
However:
View an interactive PowerPoint presentation embedded below:
However:
- Animation effects on slides or transitions between slides are not visible in the embedded viewer nor does audio or video play.
- PowerPoint presentations must be uploaded onto Windows OneDrive (an online service that provides 25GB of free storage). Users must:
- register for an Windows Live account
- upload the presentation
- right-click on the file (pictured right)
- select embed
- select generate
- copy the embed code
- select 'Done'
- paste the code into the desired website/blog
- edit the embed code to select the desired dimensions and alignment.
View an interactive PowerPoint presentation embedded below:
Webpages
Websites allow users the freedom to create a webpage or many webpages without entries being automatically ordered/presented in a chronological fashion.
Parents and families can still be updated about student contributions but must be emailed the web address to the new page (or directly to a new section on a page if the user knows some simple html - the internal page links on each page on Effective Curriculum Ideas is an example of this).
Image: Steven Lerouzic CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Interestingly, the best features of both websites and blogs can be combined if the online provider offers users both a blog and a website (the host of this website, Weebly, allows users to have both a website and a blog). Therefore users can create new or update existing content on their website and all 'followers' who have subscribed to the blog can be notified by the user making a blog post with the link to the new content - this is how the blog on Effective Curriculum Ideas works.
Parents and families can still be updated about student contributions but must be emailed the web address to the new page (or directly to a new section on a page if the user knows some simple html - the internal page links on each page on Effective Curriculum Ideas is an example of this).
Image: Steven Lerouzic CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Interestingly, the best features of both websites and blogs can be combined if the online provider offers users both a blog and a website (the host of this website, Weebly, allows users to have both a website and a blog). Therefore users can create new or update existing content on their website and all 'followers' who have subscribed to the blog can be notified by the user making a blog post with the link to the new content - this is how the blog on Effective Curriculum Ideas works.
Blogs
Blogs are organised chronologically and categorically, containing posts to which parents and family can subscribe and be notified via email of student work contributions, making following a student's learning journey as easy as, "Click to subscribe". Student work can be embedded, Facebook posts and Twitter tweets relevant to the teaching and learning process can be easily hyperlinked to or pasted in via text or screen dumps. Visit the blogging section to learn more.
Websites & Blogs
Regardless of whether schools decide to use either a website or blog (or hopefully both), with the prevalence of many free website and blog providers and the ready-made templates available for students to use, students can:
NOTE: Schools and students must read the terms and conditions of blog and website provider. Weebly, the host of this website and blog, does not claim any ownership of the content on websites hosted by them. Whereas other free website providers may claim commercial ownership of any information hosted on their servers.
- Quickly create a website or blog, linked to their school email account
- Personalise their Interactive ePortfolios by choosing various templates (layout, backgrounds and fonts)
- Make their Interactive ePortfolio accessible by family members all year round, rather than just at the end of the semester or school year
- Become more aware of their digital footprint, selecting which footprints they choose to place into their Interactive ePortfolios.
NOTE: Schools and students must read the terms and conditions of blog and website provider. Weebly, the host of this website and blog, does not claim any ownership of the content on websites hosted by them. Whereas other free website providers may claim commercial ownership of any information hosted on their servers.
The Use of Google Apps in Interactive ePortfolios
Google Apps and Google Apps for Education provides schools and students with the workspace and opportunity for people to work simultaneously and collaboratively on documents, spreadsheets, slides (Google Docs, Sheets and Slides), as well as also manage and maintain a website and wiki (Google Sites), blog (Blogger), YouTube videos and Picasa images that together all form an ePortfolio of work. More information on optional apps can be accessed from here and visit the Google Apps Marketplace.
Schools should use the table below to determine whether their situation is better suited to a Google Apps for Education account or a private Google Apps account, as well as create and ratify an Online Services/Cloud Solutions Consent Form.
Google Apps
|
Google Apps for Education (GAFE)
|
Check out the following video below about Hapara Tools for Google Apps that makes managing student usage of Google Apps easier for teachers.
To learn more about implementing Google Apps within schools, check out Google's K-12 Google Apps Implementation Guide and Learning Center.
Mahara is a free online ePortfolio solution and personal learning space (which can also be combined with Moodle, an online learning management system) implemented by number of universities and various secondary schools to allow:
Click here to watch a video to learn how to set up and manage a Mahara account.
- Students to record learning journals, embed social media resources, work collaboratively with others, manage and maintain a blog, add work to watch lists for subscribers, and create an ePortfolio by selecting a variety of pieces of work to show to prospective employers and build an online resume. Click here to watch a video explanation of how the use of Mahara can be advantageous for students.
- Teachers to keep an ePortfolio of evidence of professional learning for meeting the requirements of professional teaching bodies, sharing work with colleagues and organising online files. Click here to watch a video to promote the general use of staff ePortfolios or here to watch one related to Mahara.
Click here to watch a video to learn how to set up and manage a Mahara account.
The Advent of Social Media and its Impact on Interactive ePortfolios
If schools are using blogs, wikis, Twitter or Facebook in their classrooms to engage students in formal and informal learning rich discussion of curriculum, these avenues also naturally form a student ePortfolio of "Interactions". The presence of these Web 2.0 mediums begs the question, "How do schools combine all of these avenues of student learning into student Interactive ePortfolios?"
To best capture, present and have students reflect upon the rich teaching and learning that occurs within classroom blogs, wikis, Twitter tweets and Facebook posts, schools, particularly in secondary school situations, have shifted away from PowerPoint-based Interactive ePortfolios (which are still very useful in primary schools if used smartly) and instead are embracing the Web 2.0. approaches of using blogs, websites and Google Apps.
Interactive ePortfolio Software/Apps
In addition to the blog and GoogleApps solutions discussed above, there are a wide variety of apps that support the development of Interactive ePortfolios for Windows, Mac, iPads/iPhones/iPods and Android devices. See the relevant section below to find the apps that are right for you.
iPads, iPhones and iPods (iOS Devices)
Organise all of your Interactive ePortfolios apps into one easily accessible IOS folder.
Click on the app icon or name to go to view more details or download from the App Store.
For Transferring ePortfolio Files Between a Network and an iOS and Vice Versa
File Explorer Free
Price: Free
Description: Allows users to access files from any connected wifi network (including authenticated proxies), network device (Windows, Mac and even a hard drive shared via router), Google Drive or Dropbox.
Price: Free
Description: Allows users to access files from any connected wifi network (including authenticated proxies), network device (Windows, Mac and even a hard drive shared via router), Google Drive or Dropbox.
File Explorer Pro (Paid Version)
Price: $2.99
Description: Allows users to access files from any connected wifi network or networked device. Pro allows files to be copied from the network onto the iPad's camera roll and copy files wirelessly from an iPad onto a network.
Price: $2.99
Description: Allows users to access files from any connected wifi network or networked device. Pro allows files to be copied from the network onto the iPad's camera roll and copy files wirelessly from an iPad onto a network.
For Creating Interactive ePortfolio Content
Video Tutorial Creators
Doceri Interactive Whiteboard
Price: Free
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Records audio, touch interactions as drawings and when combined with Doceri Desktop on Windows or Mac, allows user to interact with a computer and record the screen and sound.
Click here to watch a student tutorial made using Doceri Interactive Whiteboard.
Click here to watch a student tutorial created in combination with Doceri Desktop.
Price: Free
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Records audio, touch interactions as drawings and when combined with Doceri Desktop on Windows or Mac, allows user to interact with a computer and record the screen and sound.
Click here to watch a student tutorial made using Doceri Interactive Whiteboard.
Click here to watch a student tutorial created in combination with Doceri Desktop.
Explain Everything
Price: $2.99
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Use a coloured background or import and image to annotate. Records audio and touch interactions as drawings.
Watch this video to learn more. Watch the official video to learn more.
Price: $2.99
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Use a coloured background or import and image to annotate. Records audio and touch interactions as drawings.
Watch this video to learn more. Watch the official video to learn more.
eBook Creators
Creative Book Builder
Price: $4.49
Description: Perfect for creating eBooks with multiple chapters. Easily insert images and headings. For lengthy texts, it is best to type the work using Windows or Mac, email it to oneself, open the email on the IOS device and paste into CBB.
Watch the official CBB video tutorials here.
Price: $4.49
Description: Perfect for creating eBooks with multiple chapters. Easily insert images and headings. For lengthy texts, it is best to type the work using Windows or Mac, email it to oneself, open the email on the IOS device and paste into CBB.
Watch the official CBB video tutorials here.
Book Creator
Price: Free or upgrade for $5.49 (Book Creator is available with a 50% discount for bulk purchases under Apple’s Volume Purchase Program)
Description: One of the free eBook creators that can be trialled and then be upgraded to the full version if users find it useful. Learn more here and access a
step-by-step guide to creating your first eBook here.
Price: Free or upgrade for $5.49 (Book Creator is available with a 50% discount for bulk purchases under Apple’s Volume Purchase Program)
Description: One of the free eBook creators that can be trialled and then be upgraded to the full version if users find it useful. Learn more here and access a
step-by-step guide to creating your first eBook here.
QR Codes
QR Code Maker
Price: Free
Description: Generate QR codes (scannable hyperlinks using a QR reader app on tablets or smart phones). Perfect for advertising brochures or placing on art work for people to scan and watch student explanations or poetry recitals.
Price: Free
Description: Generate QR codes (scannable hyperlinks using a QR reader app on tablets or smart phones). Perfect for advertising brochures or placing on art work for people to scan and watch student explanations or poetry recitals.
iQRScanner
Price: Free
Description: Scan QR codes (scannable hyperlinks) using tablets or smart phones to visit content online. Allows user to nominate whether the scanned link should be opened within the app or Safari.
Price: Free
Description: Scan QR codes (scannable hyperlinks) using tablets or smart phones to visit content online. Allows user to nominate whether the scanned link should be opened within the app or Safari.
Movies & Trailers
iMovie
Price: $5.49
Description: Film and edit videos and create movie trailers using a series of templates. Learn more here.
Price: $5.49
Description: Film and edit videos and create movie trailers using a series of templates. Learn more here.
Time-Lapse / Stop Motion
Lapse It
Price: It can be upgraded to Pro (to captures 1080P video and to access more filters) for $1.99.
Description: An easy to use dual purpose program that captures time lapse and stop motion. Screenshot | Video
Price: It can be upgraded to Pro (to captures 1080P video and to access more filters) for $1.99.
Description: An easy to use dual purpose program that captures time lapse and stop motion. Screenshot | Video
Animate It
Price: Free
Description: Created by Aardman Animations Studios, creators of Wallace & Gromit, is a simple introductory stop motion app for children of all ages.
Screenshot | Video
Price: Free
Description: Created by Aardman Animations Studios, creators of Wallace & Gromit, is a simple introductory stop motion app for children of all ages.
Screenshot | Video
Audio Editing & Music Creation
Garage Band
Price: Free
Description: Edit audio files and create music using a variety of musical instruments. Learn more here.
Price: Free
Description: Edit audio files and create music using a variety of musical instruments. Learn more here.
Comic Book Creators
Wanting to get students to adapt their written narratives into comics or publish student comics. Use a combination of these apps to create professional looking comics!
Wanting to get students to adapt their written narratives into comics or publish student comics. Use a combination of these apps to create professional looking comics!
ComicBook!
Price: $1.99*
Description: Create professional looking comics using customised speech bubbles, page layouts, import images from library and camera roll (be the star in your own comic) and manipulate images using various image filters. Saves to PDF. Watch the offical video to learn more.
*Add-ons available for purchase. Turn off in-app purchases in the iPad Settings menu to disable student purchases.
Price: $1.99*
Description: Create professional looking comics using customised speech bubbles, page layouts, import images from library and camera roll (be the star in your own comic) and manipulate images using various image filters. Saves to PDF. Watch the offical video to learn more.
*Add-ons available for purchase. Turn off in-app purchases in the iPad Settings menu to disable student purchases.
Comic Maker HD
Price: Free *Add-ons available for purchase.
Description: Use the templates and available characters to create professional looking comics. Watch the official video tutorials here.
* Turn off in-app purchases in the iPad Settings menu to disable student purchases.
Price: Free *Add-ons available for purchase.
Description: Use the templates and available characters to create professional looking comics. Watch the official video tutorials here.
* Turn off in-app purchases in the iPad Settings menu to disable student purchases.
ToonCamera
Price: $1.99
Description: Apply comic and cartoon effects to photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad's camera feed and roll. Watch the offiical video here.
Price: $1.99
Description: Apply comic and cartoon effects to photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad's camera feed and roll. Watch the offiical video here.
Sketch Me!
Price: $1.99
Description: Turns photos into sketches. Seven different sketch effects are available.
Price: $1.99
Description: Turns photos into sketches. Seven different sketch effects are available.
Photo Collage/Framing
These photo collage apps are ideal for creating beautiful 'About Me' and 'Personal Profile' pages for student portfolios or for framing student images/photos from camps, excursions and other school-based experiences.
These photo collage apps are ideal for creating beautiful 'About Me' and 'Personal Profile' pages for student portfolios or for framing student images/photos from camps, excursions and other school-based experiences.
Pic Collage
Price: Free
Description: Create amazing photo collages using photos, stickers and fonts. Over 50 million downloads and counting! Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: Create amazing photo collages using photos, stickers and fonts. Over 50 million downloads and counting! Watch the official video here.
Photo Collage Free
Price: Free
Description: Choose a layout, place and size photos within each of the frame's elements and modify the colour of the photo collage frame.
Price: Free
Description: Choose a layout, place and size photos within each of the frame's elements and modify the colour of the photo collage frame.
Mac
Screencasting (Recording a Computer Screen for Video Tutorials)
Screenr
Price: Free
Description: A web-based screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: A web-based screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Jing
Price: Free
Description: A downloadable screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: A downloadable screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
eBook Creator
iBooks Author
Price: Free
Description: Create interactive eBooks for reading on Mac and iPads! Place image windows/galleries, videos and hyperlinked content alongside of text. Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: Create interactive eBooks for reading on Mac and iPads! Place image windows/galleries, videos and hyperlinked content alongside of text. Watch the official video here.
Movies & Trailers
iMovie
Price: $15.99
Description: Film and edit videos and create movie trailers using a series of templates. Click here to learn more.
Price: $15.99
Description: Film and edit videos and create movie trailers using a series of templates. Click here to learn more.
Audio Editing & Music Creation
Garage Band
Price: Free
Description: Edit audio files and create music using a variety of musical instruments. Click here to learn more.
Price: Free
Description: Edit audio files and create music using a variety of musical instruments. Click here to learn more.
Time-Lapse / Stop Motion
Stop Motion Pro
Price: Free trial
Description: The market leading stop motion program. Used to film Wallace & Gromit. Import images and video (AVI/MOV) from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Import or record audio and multi-track audio.
Screenshot | Video
Price: Free trial
Description: The market leading stop motion program. Used to film Wallace & Gromit. Import images and video (AVI/MOV) from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Import or record audio and multi-track audio.
Screenshot | Video
Windows
Desktop "Live" Capture / Student Tutorials
Doceri Desktop
Price: Single-seat license $US30 with multi-seat licensing available for schools
Description: When combined with an Doceri for iPad, Doceri Desktop allows users (a teacher in a whole class or small group scenario, or a student when creating a tutorial) to interact with a computer to (i) control the PC (Windows or Mac) and (ii) record touch and mouse interactions, computer sound and a narrator's audio.
Click here to watch a student tutorial made using Doceri Interactive Whiteboard.
Click here to watch a student tutorial created in combination with Doceri Desktop.
Price: Single-seat license $US30 with multi-seat licensing available for schools
Description: When combined with an Doceri for iPad, Doceri Desktop allows users (a teacher in a whole class or small group scenario, or a student when creating a tutorial) to interact with a computer to (i) control the PC (Windows or Mac) and (ii) record touch and mouse interactions, computer sound and a narrator's audio.
Click here to watch a student tutorial made using Doceri Interactive Whiteboard.
Click here to watch a student tutorial created in combination with Doceri Desktop.
Screencasting (Recording a Computer Screen for Video Tutorials)
Screenr
Price: Free
Description: A web-based screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: A web-based screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Jing
Price: Free
Description: A downloadable screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Price: Free
Description: A downloadable screen recorder to create and share screencasts. Watch the official video here.
Time-Lapse / Stop Motion
Animate It
Price: Free (trial)
Description: Created by Aardman Animations Studios, creators of Wallace & Gromit, is a simple introductory stop motion app for children of all ages.
Screenshot | Video
Price: Free (trial)
Description: Created by Aardman Animations Studios, creators of Wallace & Gromit, is a simple introductory stop motion app for children of all ages.
Screenshot | Video
Stop Motion Pro
Price: Free trial
Description: The market leading stop motion program. Used to film Wallace & Gromit. Import images and video (AVI/MOV) from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Import or record audio and multi-track audio.
Screenshot | Video
Price: Free trial
Description: The market leading stop motion program. Used to film Wallace & Gromit. Import images and video (AVI/MOV) from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Import or record audio and multi-track audio.
Screenshot | Video
Monkey Jam
Price: Free
Description: A stop motion program for Windows. Import images from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Simple drag and drop feature to reposition images or adjust the duration of each frame. Import MP3 or WAV to insert audio. Export as AVI. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Video (Student Work) | Video Tutorial
Price: Free
Description: A stop motion program for Windows. Import images from file, webcam, DV camera or scanner. Simple drag and drop feature to reposition images or adjust the duration of each frame. Import MP3 or WAV to insert audio. Export as AVI. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Video (Student Work) | Video Tutorial
eBook Creator
Kerpoof
Price: Free
Description: A simple online eBook creator for the junior years classroom, containing six themed character templates.
Simply select an element, drag and drop, resize and resposition and type in the text boxes.
Price: Free
Description: A simple online eBook creator for the junior years classroom, containing six themed character templates.
Simply select an element, drag and drop, resize and resposition and type in the text boxes.
Android
For Transferring ePortfolio Files Between a Network and an iDevice, and Vice Versa
ES File Explorer
Price: Free
Description: Allows users to access and modify local files (on an Android device) or remotely (on a computer, network drive and network devices) via any connected wifi network (including authenticated proxies). Click here to watch a video tutorial to learn more.
Price: Free
Description: Allows users to access and modify local files (on an Android device) or remotely (on a computer, network drive and network devices) via any connected wifi network (including authenticated proxies). Click here to watch a video tutorial to learn more.
For Creating Interactive ePortfolio Content
Video Tutorial Creator
Explain Everything
Price: $2.99
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Use a coloured background or import and image to annotate. Records audio and touch interactions as drawings. Watch the official video to learn more.
Price: $2.99
Description: Perfect for creating video tutorials. Use a coloured background or import and image to annotate. Records audio and touch interactions as drawings. Watch the official video to learn more.
eBook Creator
Creative Book Builder
Price: $3.79
Description: Perfect for creating eBooks with multiple chapters. Easily insert images and headings. For lengthy texts, it is best to type the work using Windows or Mac, email it to oneself, open the email on the IOS device and paste into CBB. Watch the official CBB video tutorials here.
Price: $3.79
Description: Perfect for creating eBooks with multiple chapters. Easily insert images and headings. For lengthy texts, it is best to type the work using Windows or Mac, email it to oneself, open the email on the IOS device and paste into CBB. Watch the official CBB video tutorials here.
Photo Collage/Framing
Pic Collage
Price: Free
Description: Create amazing photo collages using photos, stickers and fonts. Ideal for creating beautiful 'About Me' and 'Personal Profile' pages for student portfolios or for framing student images/photos from camps, excursions and other school-based experiences.
Price: Free
Description: Create amazing photo collages using photos, stickers and fonts. Ideal for creating beautiful 'About Me' and 'Personal Profile' pages for student portfolios or for framing student images/photos from camps, excursions and other school-based experiences.
Comic Book Creator
ComicBook!
Price: $1.99* Add-ons available for purchase.
Description: Create professional looking comics using customised speech bubbles, page layouts, import images from library and camera roll (be the star in your own comic) and manipulate images using various image filters. Saves to PDF. Watch the offical video to learn more.
Price: $1.99* Add-ons available for purchase.
Description: Create professional looking comics using customised speech bubbles, page layouts, import images from library and camera roll (be the star in your own comic) and manipulate images using various image filters. Saves to PDF. Watch the offical video to learn more.
QR Code Reader and Generator
QR Droid
Price: Free
Description: Read and generate QR Codes hyperlinked to a web address, generate an email, create a phone 'contact' card, generate an event or even a PayPal payment. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2
Price: Free
Description: Read and generate QR Codes hyperlinked to a web address, generate an email, create a phone 'contact' card, generate an event or even a PayPal payment. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2
Time-Lapse / Stop Motion
Lapse It
Price: Free (It can be upgraded to Pro to capture 1080P video and to access more filters for $2.99).
Description: An easy to use dual purpose program that captures time lapse and stop motion. Screenshot | Video
Price: Free (It can be upgraded to Pro to capture 1080P video and to access more filters for $2.99).
Description: An easy to use dual purpose program that captures time lapse and stop motion. Screenshot | Video
Planned & Authentic Assessment of Interactive ePortfolios
Students should be able to continually self-assess the quality of their interactive ePortfolios by using an agreed-upon marking rubric. In this rubric, students should easily be bale to identify improvements they could make to their work, including:
Click on the image below to download a possible Interactive ePortfolio Rubric for PowerPoint-based projects that use online services (such as Google Drive) to host their content.
- The required curriculum area content
- Online content and file size
- Multi-modal content
- Navigation
- Theme
- Type-Written work
- Effects
Click on the image below to download a possible Interactive ePortfolio Rubric for PowerPoint-based projects that use online services (such as Google Drive) to host their content.
Students can use the rubric throughout the year to continually assess each page/slide that they insert into their interactive ePortfolio, as well at the end of the year to assess the end product (see below).
Interactive ePortfolio Downloads
Click the links below to download:
- An exemplar model of a twelve-year old primary school student's Web-Based PowerPoint Interactive ePortfolio, made available under school and parental permission (NOTE: (i) Click the above link to view the portfolio in a non-interactive form then click on the File menu and Download to save and interact with the content contained within, (ii) Teacher and peer feedback were given both in oral and written form throughout the year but these selected work samples were not always taken from pages containing examples of these valuable feedback loops)
- Internet and Media Publishing Consent and Waiver Form, as most school Media Release Consent Forms do not address the move towards cloud-based storage and the sharing of digital content with a local/national/global audience
- Interactive ePortfolio and Google Account Parent Information and Permission Form
- Interactive ePortfolio Assessment Rubric: PDF | XLS.