Definition: a portfolio is a collection of student work that demonstrates progress and growth. Teachers can determine if specific assessments should be present or involve students in determining the success criteria for what is to be added. Portfolios can be paper or digital and can provide an immense amount of insight into student learning over a period of time.
Purpose: The purpose of a portfolio is to collect student learning and demonstrate the specific evidence of growth in a variety of standards and content. Using portfolios is an excellent way to get students involved in the assessment process and for teachers to authentically assess student growth. Portfolios can be used in lieu of testing or final projects.
Process:
- Collect: The first part of the portfolio process is collection. Students should keep all evidence of learning in one place. Whether it is in a crate with folders if paper or in Google drive organized by folders, students should maintain all of their work in every state of completion.
- Select: The selection process will largely depend on the determined success criteria. Portfolios can be used to demonstrate success, achievement, growth or improvement or a combination of any of those ideas. Depending on the age and level of students, open up a dialogue about what their portfolios should represent about them as a learner.
- Reflect: Once students have selected the evidence for their portfolio, students should reflect on why they selected the pieces they did. What does the work demonstrate? How do they know? Are their goals that these pieces show being met? Is it their best work? What students are most proud of? Or does it demonstrate how far they have come?
- Connect: This is specifically on here for schools that employ portfolio systems in different classes or for elementary aged students where they can connect evidence of learning a particular skill or content in multiple areas of their learning. It is meant as a way for them to consider transfer of learning and to have evidence of interdisciplinary understanding.
- Present: Use a portfolio presentation as an opportunity to allow students to articulate their learning for an audience.
Resources:
Carvalho, B. (n.d.). Closing the School Year with an Exit Portfolio. spacesedu.com from https://spacesedu.com/en/closing-the-school-year-with-an-exit-portfolio/
Kaso, B. (n.d.). Exit Portfolio. prezi.com from https://prezi.com/xby2j8xjxq0z/
Sackstein, S. (n.d.). 7 Tips for Successful Portfolio Conferences. mssackstein.com from https://www.mssackstein.com/blog-1/categories/writing-instruction
Sackstein, S. (n.d.). Building Student Portfolios. In youtube.com. https://youtu.be/Uhv3Bl4oIPg
Sackstein, S. (n.d.). Instead of Standardized Testing, Consider Portfolio Assessment. blogs.edweek.org from http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2019/04/instead_of_standardized_testin.html
Sackstein, S. (n.d.). Sample ePortfolio Presentation Video. In youtube.com. https://youtu.be/HtQCKSloOi8
Student-Led Conferences: WHY, HOW, and BEST PRACTICES. (n.d.). In youtube.com. https://youtu.be/kZQSeCA2fMI
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