This work reflects progress or signals difficulty. By high school, portfolio assessment, both paper-based and electronic, coupled with traditional assessment methods are being exercised by many graduating seniors. Often the student uses an electronic presentation tool like Microsoft PowerPoint to present their information. Students are assessed in communication skills and in accomplishments rather than just scholarship. As parents, we recognize the value of collecting samples of children's work.
Scrapbooks are a great way for families to come together and to reflect on children's schoolwork.
With all good intentions, paper scrapbooks sometimes get misplaced and as our children grow older, we often become lax at keeping it up. With the aid of computers, teachers can work with students to create a permanent digital scrapbook that students take with them at graduation time. Students' skills and talents are permanently showcased in a digital portfolio. Of course, for the teacher, the digital portfolio has the added advantage of focusing on the student's developing skills. As such, a permanent record is readily available to assist teachers in reviewing student progress and in providing guidance to the student for improvement and for placement in additional coursework if the student desires.