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A very recent publication that studies ePortfolio use in Higher Education. Although it is written as a guide for college instructors, consideration/adaptation of the lessons learned should be considered for middle and high school. Amazon Book Description: "E-portfolios perform many functions in higher education at both an institutional and student level. This book offers online instructors guidance in creating and implementing e-portfolios with their students. It helps them assess the needs of their students then design and implement a strategic, comprehensive e-portfolio program tailored to these needs. Further, it lets instructors see how such programs can be used as an example of their own personal and professional academic development. This is an essential resource for any online instructor or student wishing to use e-portfolios as a tool."

"GetEdFunding is a free and fresh grant finding resource, dedicated to helping educators and institutions identify the funding they need in budget-tight times. GetEdFunding hosts a collection of more than 600 grants and opportunities culled from federal, state, regional and community sources and is available to public and private, preK-12 schools, districts and educators, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that work with them. "

Charlotte Danielson is the author of a framework for teaching which is being adopted by many states. Although this book was published back in 1997, and much has changed, my guess is that her pedagogical portfolio approach is still worth reading and can be translated to an electronic model. Amazon Book Description: "As recently as the early 1990s, portfolios began to appear in the classroom in to support a variety of activities, from helping students and teachers set goals to helping teachers and administrators assess curriculum needs. For many educators, the portfolio process offers a clear strategy for the achievement of important classroom objectives. According to accounts from both researchers and practitioners, portfolios can: - engage students in learning content, - help students learn the skills of reflection and self-evaluation, - document student learning in areas that do not lend themselves to traditional assessment, and - facilitate communication with parents. This practical guide provides a useful resource for educators who would like to begin using portfolios in the classroom. In a concise format, the authors examine the many uses of portfolios and offer guidance on strategies to increase the effectiveness of this process in assessment and instruction."

Multiple listings for teacher grant opportunities. Also, link to Grants Page for NYC Department of Education staff (log in required).

AAEEBL (The Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning) is a leader in the ePortfolio community. They developed a webinar series and invited different companies to present their platforms. All webinars are archived and available for review. "This webinar series came about," explained Stanford's Helen Chen of EPAC, "because no matter how much we emphasize that the teaching and learning with eportfolios is a priority over the technology, questions always arise about eportfolio platforms. Therefore, we thought it would be a good service to the eportfolio community to offer this webinar series and to address specific issues that arise in relation to the technologies of eportfolios."

"Need technology funding for your school or classroom? Check out grants for computer labs, classroom technology education grants for teachers, and new technology for schools. Read on to learn more."

Helen Barrett has worked in both K-12 and Higher Education Although this blog post was written in 2010, finding resources and support for eP development in K-12 seems clear. "K-12 has little to no funding for ePortfolio..." "The K-12 culture is very different from higher education. Professional development is very different, their reasons for implementing ePortfolios are different, and the tools/strategies they use are also different. Most schools don't have the level of technology support that you will find in most higher ed institutions (unless they are a private or international school). The time constraints are also very different. They squeeze in PD in one- and two-hour blocks. But from my observations from the Intermediate (middle) school that I visited in New Zealand, it is the small incremental trainings on a regular basis (before and after school) that makes a difference in how well teachers implement technology in teaching and students' learning."

"The "Educational Technology" Index will allow K-20 schools, after-school programs, non-profit educational organizations, colleges and universities to meet the constant challenge of providing up- to-date technological training, equipment and materials by drawing on new available resources. Expand your present offerings, or create new and challenging courses with the help of cash grants, hardware, software, computer/IT training, and staff professional development grants, as well as funding for new programs and curriculum development."

Over 20 research-based articles that discuss reflection, integrative learning, establishing identities and technology and design for learning. From articles that describe the iterations of implementation to the the emphasis on individual responsibility for learning, many of the concepts could be adapted by High Schools. Amazon Book Description: "Higher education institutions of all kinds-across the United States and around the world-have rapidly expanded the use of electronic portfolios in a broad range of applications including general education, the major, personal planning, freshman learning communities, advising, assessing, and career planning. Widespread use creates an urgent need to evaluate the implementation and impact of eportfolios. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the contributors to this book-all of whom have been engaged with the Inter/National Coalition for Electronic Portfolio Research-have undertaken research on how eportfolios influence learning and the learning environment for students, faculty members, and institutions. This book features emergent results of studies from 20 institutions that have examined effects on student reflection, integrative learning, establishing identity, organizational learning, and designs for learning supported by technology. It also describes how institutions have responded to multiple challenges in eportfolio development, from engaging faculty to going to scale. "

Another "portfolio" guide, that with scanner and current digital technologies could be adapted to 21st century skills. Amazon Book Description: "Ten simple steps to build portfolio assessment into everyday teaching."

Seems worthwhile looking at a research-based case study of a school district that implemented an ePortfolio assessment system. Amazon Book Description: "Rhode Island's proficiency-based high school diploma system requires high school graduates to demonstrate proficiency in standard-based content and applied learning skills through at least two performance assessment measures (RIDE, 2003). To meet these requirements, 12 of Rhode Island's 39 school districts are using ePortfolios as one of their performance assessment measures (Gehring, 2006). Consequently, classroom teachers in ePortfolio school districts must confront issues associated with changing their classroom practice as a result of implementation of ePortfolios. Several points were emphasized as a result of teacher perceptions, which include the power of the ePortfolio in guiding teachers' instructional decisions and re-designing assessments to meet the requirements of content and criteria standards, evaluation instruments, and institutional expectations, while making challenges intellectually interesting and of value to students (Wiggins, 1998)."

At $195.00, this might not be an easy purchase (although it is on Amazon used for $117.00)... and it also is at the Higher Education level. But with over 100 experts contributing, it might be a consideration. Amazon Book Description: "The Handbook of Research on ePortfolios is the single source for comprehensive coverage of the major themes of ePortfolios, addressing all of the major issues, from concept to technology to implementation. It is the first reference publication to provide a complete investigation on a variety of ePortfolio uses through case studies and supporting technologies, and also explains the conceptual thinking behind current uses and potential uses not yet implemented. Over 100 international experts with countless years of experience lend this handbook the credibility that assures its readers of its extensive, recent, and reliable content. The Handbook of Research on ePortfolios is the first handbook to investigate commercial and academic ePortfolio systems-home-grown, off the shelf, and open source-and to supply proof-of-concept evidence of successful systems."

A scholarly article reviewing many sources on the impact of ePortfolios on student learning and teacher assessment.

A high school teacher in Hawaii writes a resolution to the Hawaii State Board of Education suggesting they use her school's model of using ePortfolios to meet the PTP requirement for every student at every school.

"Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource - our nation's teachers. "

This blog post lists several examples of tools used to make ePortfolios, along with pictures and links.

This PDF looks at what beginners should do as they start looking into ePortfolios. It covers everything from advantages, disadvantages, to changing school policy pedagogy.

"Qualities of "Authentic Performances" A Final Performance Across the Disciplines A Final Performance Across the Disciplines A Final Performance in History and English The APU Assessment of Mathematics (Great Britain) Walden III's Rite of Passage Experience (ROPE)"