Make On-Line Portfolios Available to Parents - Secure and Easy

Wait!  Don't be afraid!  Trust me... this is so easy, I can't believe I haven't tried this until just now.

As teachers, we often want to collect samples of student work into a portfolio.  Traditionally, that means gathering some sort of folder-type organizer and occasionally selecting work to put into it so that we have something to share with the parents at interview time, or with an administrator or resource teacher, or even with the students themselves.

"Folders?" you ask.  "Sharing?"  So, we want a shared folder, right?

Exactly!

So, enter my good friend Google Drive (formerly known as Google Docs).  You have 30GB of storage there, where you can upload any kind of file.  You have the functionality to create and share folders.   That's all you need!

So, if you haven't already, check out my blog and accompanying video on using Google Drive.  It also explains how to share a document.  Folders are shared in exactly the same way.

So, very simply, here are the steps:

• Create a folder in your Google Drive for each student, and name it accordingly.  I create a master folder called "Student Portfolios", and then put the student folders inside it... one for Kelly, one for David, etc.  
• Collect email addresses from parents.  
• On each student's folder, right-click on it, select "share" and type (or paste) in the parent's email address to share the folder with them.  
• Check the box "can view", but I wouldn't allow them to have the "can edit" permission.  
• Click the checkbox to send them an email, and then click "Done." Now, anything you place into that folder is automatically shared with that student's parent!
• Now, you can photograph any written work along with the evaluations (rubrics, checklists, success criteria... whatever you think is relevant) and upload the photos to that folder.  Parents will have immediate access to the items you put in this folder from anywhere in the world!
• If your students are using Google Drive themselves, they can create a document and hand it in to you by sharing it with you.  You can then make a copy (right-click and "make a copy") and put that into their electronic on-line portfolio!

The students' work is privacy protected, as only the person who has access to the email address that was used to share it in the first place will have access to the folder!

Create an On-line Survey with Google Forms

I have used Google forms for all sorts of different applications.  I have had students complete them as on-line quizzes (you can even get paid plugins that will mark them for you!), I have used them for having parents sign up for interview time slots, and for getting staff feedback on school issues.  In short, anything you can think of for you to conduct a survey on can be easily done in Google Forms.  Once the data is collected, it can be easily analyzed in charts, graphs, or within a spreadsheet.  My junior level students have created surveys and collected data as part of their Data Management unit in math.  My students last year got people responding to their surveys from as far away as Australia and Africa!  How's THAT for going beyond the walls of the classroom?  And hey... if your junior level students can do it, then so can you.  Give it a try!