Washtenaw Intermediate School District (Washtenaw ISD) has teamed up with Bulb Digital Portfolios to offer students a new way to showcase their achievements.
Students (and teachers) can use Bulb, an award-winning digital platform, to create online portfolios that highlight professional and personal achievements and future goals. For those applying for internships, jobs, or college, a digital multimedia portfolio can increase the chances of standing out from the crowd.
Students can update their Bulb portfolios regularly over a lifetime, providing an opportunity to emphasize how they are integrating what they learn in the classroom into the rest of their lives. Users can add images, videos, documents, and audio to curate their personal stories.
"I see digital portfolios as an addition to traditional resumes. It's a way to be more genuine and approachable than with just words on paper," says Ashley Kryscynski, Washtenaw ISD communications and public relations specialist. She adds that students can use their portfolios to reflect on their learning and show how they are applying new knowledge and skills.
ISD staff discovered Bulb as a result of their connection with the Association of Educational Services Agencies (AESA). Washtenaw ISD's superintendent was sold after he heard a rave review of the platform from a colleague in Kansas while attending an AESA function.
"The advantages were obvious and he was really impressed with what he heard," Kryscynski says. "We know that students are already pros at using technology, but becoming proficient in creating and using digital portfolios helps them to shift from digital consumers to digital contributors."
The new partnership means that schools and districts that are interested in Bulb Digital Portfolios now have access to special rates, support, and training through Washtenaw ISD. More information can be found here.
Jaishree Drepaul-Bruder is a freelance writer and editor currently based in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jaishreeedit@gmail.com.
Photo by Ashley Kryscysnki.
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