Pedagogical arguments for using digital portfolio in teaching and learning

A portfolio is a way of collecting, organising, transporting and presenting work. Digital portfolio, as a contemporary concept, is used in many different ways. In an educational context digital portfolio is often used as a method to promote learning or as a method to make learning visible. The overall purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to current educational debate by presenting theoretical and practical arguments for using digital portfolio as a method in teaching and learning. In particular this paper explores specific cases and illustrates ways in which students develop an ability to collect, organize, interpret and reflect on their own individual learning and practice and become more active and creative in the development of knowledge. The affordances of contemporary technologies are necessarily an aspect of the discussion, thus digital portfolio is primarily conceptualised in relation to teaching and learning and not simply as a technological tool.