Assessing ePortfolios?

I've given a lot of thought about how to implement an ePortfolio (especially as it's still uncertain what the school year might look like in the Fall and it might be best to have assessments that are digital and focus on growth). Yet, in the high school setting, how assignments are graded and weighted is paramount. I teach AP Juniors and Seniors. At these levels, rank is the upmost importance for the students. Often the top ranking students are only apart by 0.001% and competition is fierce. This is no room for grades that are subjective and weighted heavily. The idea of an ePortfolio is something that I love and would be a great addition for students when they build their resumes and applications as they apply for college. My one reservation is how to assess their growth with a grade. An ePortfolio requires time and effort and should hold the weight of a major grade. I feel the best plan on attack is to have the students collaborate in making a rubric that assesses what they believe growth should look like. This student-created rubric option empowers the students to buy in to the assignment as well as have a voice in their own learning. Part of the COVA Method focuses on allowing students to "reflect on their experiences, express their insights, connect, and collaborate with a broader learning community" (Harapnuik, pg. 61). I will have to do more research and communicate with other educators on their successes and failures in student-created rubrics. I'm excited about learning more about this idea and I can't wait to try everything I've been reading and learning about!

Resources:

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (n.d.). COVA: Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning [Https://gallery.mailchimp.com/1bdbac4d4fbdff334a642eb11/files/8b18ae2a-8696-4d58-9b80-192f4cc6624c/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.02.pdf]. Creative Commons License. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from 6/18/2020