Strategic Considerations:
Technical expertise and access: Your access to technology tools and level and sophistication of your technical expertise is an important factor to consider when selecting the software to use in creating  electronic portfolios. Hellen Barrett of the University of Alaska, has written an excellent article that can guide your selection.
Feature Article-Learning & Leading With Technology (Oct. 1998) What to Consider When Planning for Electronic Portfolios
Numbers of Students: The number of students developing portfolios is another factor to consider. How individualized will these portfolios be? If you have large numbers of students and fewer resources, you  might want to consider designing and using a template. A few graphics can be made available for students to use in their sites either through internet links or some clip art on a disk or server. You may also offer a variety of templates for students to choose
Template Links
Age of Students: Students can create their own portfolios. I have seen some impressive uses of KidPix by Kindergarten children.. Their work can be combined into a slide show to show development at different times of the year. See Africa for a way KidPix was used to learn about young children.
Selecting a Software Program:
Create Your Own Electronic Portfolio Using Off-the-Shelf Software to Showcase Your Own or Student Work  By Helen C. Barrett  Published in Learning & Leading with Technology, April, 2000,  Dr. Barrett  describes the electronic portfolio development process further and covers seven different software and hardware tools for creating portfolios.
Types of Programs:
  Database

FileMaker Pro A database that lets you include sound, graphics and video. See a sample.

      Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe Acrobat (Adobe), EXAMPLE at http://transition.alaska.edu/www/portfolios/howto/Portfoliodoc2.pdf

      HyperMedia Software

    Grady's Profile Aurbach & Associates provides a structured approach to portfolio collection. This program provides a number of modifiable templates using a HyperCard type format. A free demo can be downloaded from their site.

    HyperStudio (HyperStudio.com) Multimedia program, easy to use, allows you to individualize or create templates. Good for grades 2-8.

      Web Publishing

    Mozilla: A free program that use to be called Netscape Composer. Easy to use, works on both Macs and PCs and does all the basics. Appropriate for grades 4 and up.

    DreamWeaver: For professional looking sites. High school and up. The next step after Composer.

    Commerical Portfolio Systems : Growing in popularity, Commerical systems provide searchable databases for storage of artifacts and communication tools to promote a process of portfolio building.

  • FolioLive An instructors' area of the site allows you to create a course Web site linking to your students' portfolios. Students can organize their portfolios around any set of standards, or any organization you require. Students can add introductions and reflections to each artifact or group of artifacts.  Students buy access to FolioLive in the same way they would purchase a textbook. There are no costs or requirements for your school.
 
  • Teachers' Workplace A new comprehensive tools with a variety of communication, artifact development and storage, assessment tools and a publishing feature that is being tested and used currently in Vermont and West Virginia schools. At the link, you will find a simulation of how students some secondary education students are using it for their learning.
  • TaskStream (Web Folio Builder) web-based productivity tools, TaskStream provides learning communities and individual educators with tools to build curriculum, enhance collaboration, and support mentoring programs. Educators design learning activities, map and track standards, create rubrics, develop electronic portfolios, and compile shared curriculum and resource libraries
  • True Outcomes: web-based software offers surveys, professional portfolios, juried portfolios and a curriculum record tool. The Professional Portfolio is student owned and operated, so you can collect authentic assessmentdata from their products
  • e-Portfolio From Chalk and Wire is  less expensive online tool with RubricMarker™
    and point and click authoring of professional web-based portfolios.  Powerful performance analysis and reporting. generates aggregate and disaggregate data given demographic variables.
  • LiveText  Providing support for online: Portfolios, Activities, Custom Templates Reviews  Assessments, Accreditation Reporting and Exhibit Center