Assessment

Assessment Models - Portfolios

Portfolios are collections of student work that is chosen to demonstrate specific types of learning. Students collect their work as they progress through their studies, selecting items that show mastery of learning objectives. They must reflect on the learning outcomes and how their work demonstrates their understanding and competence with those outcomes. They must make connections among the various classes they take in their academic career and the learning outcomes of general studies, their major and minor.

Advantages

• Flexible. They can be used at different levels, for different purposes and with different kinds of material
• Lead to higher-order thinking
• Document both the process and the product of education
• Use actual work students do in classes already
• Engage students actively and reflectively in their own learning process

Potential Problems

• Possibly labor-intensive, but this can be mitigated by using sampling methods or focusing on specific goals
• Students may need supervision and guidance
• Paper form can be cumbersome, but electronic portfolio systems are available
• Faculty development is needed to help reviewers be consist and create clear criteria