1. Motivate students
2. Provides feedback to parents/caregivers over the net or at IEPs/ Open House
3. Clearly documents student successes or challenges
4. Becomes another form of assessment, in terms of “multiple measures”
5. Exemplifies best practice in student assessment as an alternative to standardized testing which may not be a valid measure for some students
6. Incorporates technology and provides a model of technology use for your student
7. Easy to access, organize, and store (CD-Rs or RWs vs bulky binders)
8. Easily duplicated (burned) for parents or staff.

1. Some of the same items as a conventional portfolio: IEP goals, progress reports, testing information
2. Digital photographs of classroom activities
   (Be sure to add text to the picture explaining what is going on in the picture, when it was taken, and who is in it. Most scanning/picture viewing software includes text capability, or you can make your own “Read Me” explaining the contents of the portfolio.)
3. Any computer-generated student work (word processing, creative drawing, software that generates data on switch activations, etc.)
4. Film clips of student performance of classroom tasks as well as teaching/learning strategies that work for the student
5. Scanned copies of actual student work saved as text or jpeg files (Pair this with an explanation of how the student completed the work or what concept the student is learning through the work he/she completed.)
6. Copies of emails or other communication about the student
7. Teacher notes/”scribbles”How do I get started? What equipment is needed
   1. Due to limited funds, you may have to seek out grants or corporate sponsorship.
   2. Equipment: computer (with CD burner), digital camera, camcorder with digital capability, printer, scanner.
   3. Create folders on your hard drive for each student. Keep a “master file” of all classroom activities/materials. Make duplicates of files applicable to a particular student and add them to that student’s file. Back up each file. If you use rewriteable CDs (CD-RWs), they can be updated over and over again.
   4. Use applications that are “cross-platform” (accessible to both Mac and PC users). Some examples are MS Word (for word processing) and QuickTime for video clips. Photos saved in the jpeg format can also be viewed by either type of system with QuickTime (a free download) or other picture viewing software.

1. Anytime student performance is being assessed. Preparation for presentations at IEP meetings, teacher/parent conferences, trouble-shooting with DIS or support staff
2. Reviewing work with a student or motivating a studen
3. For students who do not generate “work” in the conventional sense. Video clips and digital photographs become their work samples.
4. They can become a wonderful tool when preparing for transitioning a student between programs and classes They inform staff and caregivers.
5. Parent/teacher communication. Copies can be burned or emailed to parents

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