The Really Big Questions…

Is portfolio assessment effective? In other words, in this world of high-stakes testing and “teaching to the test”, can portfolio assessments prove a useful alternative?

Do authentic assessments, specifically Portfolio Assessment, produce favorable results on standardized tests?  For an interesting perspective check out http://educationnext.org/portfolio-assessment/.

We, as idealistic, pre-service teachers want to have alternatives.  We are bound by standards at the state and district level, evaluated by student performance on high-stakes tests and are obligated to teach our students facts and concepts.  Portfolios provide the opportunity to roll the standards into projects, presentations and reports.  The resulting “artifacts” can slide into a portfolio representing the students learning progression and result in student achievement.  Portfolios are not without their challenges.  Teachers argue that time constraints limit the use of portfolios in the classroom.  Educational researchers concede that preparation time can be intense for successful integration, however they argue that students can benefit substantially from the effort.

This blog is an interactive and fluid source for teachers interested in utilizing portfolio assessment in the elementary and secondary classroom.  The intention is to provide research justifications for portfolios along with practical applications.

Reflection…

Last week’s issue study presentation allowed for a near-complete coverage of the topic and the learning resource.  The concern about filling up the class period, was quickly replaced by a fear of presenting an incomplete overview of portfolios and portfolio assessment.  The learning resource has been modified to include a more comprehensive bibliography and additional thoughts to address the distinct challenges faced by teachers and schools.

The following information is in response to some questions raised during the presentation.

English-Writing Portfolios:

The National Council of Teachers of English Council Chronicle published an article, in March of 2004, outlining writing portfolios and the transition from traditional to electronic portfolios.  The authors address the fact that the presentations may change, but the components remain the same…  “key components of portfolios are collection, selection, reflection, and projection, meaning a student is actively engaged in the process of picking, refining, explaining, juxtaposing, and proposing next steps in his or her writing.”

Considerations for Implementation:

Several class members stated the desire to implement student portfolios in the classroom.  A great starting point for anyone considering portfolios is the Arter and Spandel (1992) article.  Note the self-test near the end that poses questions about purpose, audience, curricular focus and other details for consideration.  The link to the online article is located in the bibliography section of this site.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it…

Googling portfolio assessment, authentic assessment or alternative assessment results in a dizzying amount of websites, opinionated blogs and scholarly journal articles.  The resources provided in this blog attempt to narrow the topic to sources that are both informational and practical.  Before navigating through the pages, please read through, briefly think about and answer the following questions.

• Do you already have a portfolio? If so, is it for a class or related to your career?
• Where in society do you think portfolios can be used? Why?
• What can be included in a portfolio?
• What do you think doesn’t belong in a portfolio?
• What would you value in a portfolio? As a student?  As a teacher?
• What can a portfolio look like?

Once you have answered these questions, take some time to read through articles that capture your attention, peak your curiosity or simply make you smile.  Be sure to check out the blogs from the bibliography page and the e-portfolio page, as they provide the most current information available.  Before class next week (November 2) please write a reflection related to the questions above, along with additional questions or observations.