Portfolios

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Portfolios
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Why use portfolios?

• To encourage students to be reflective and
  responsible
• To allow students to make choices
• To give students evidence of their writing

• To provide a larger sample for grading and
  assessment
• To save time at the end of the semester
• To contribute to program assessment and teaching
  portfolios

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NCTE supports portfolios

• In 1997 the National Council of Teachers of
  English issued a statement supporting the use of
  writing portfolios (The Council Chronicle, June
  1997).

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Some types of portfolios

• A writing folder includes everything from doodles
  to final drafts.
• A presentation or final portfolio contains
  finished and polished work.
• An open portfolio allows the students to choose
  their submissions.
• A closed portfolio gives the students guidance in
  what to submit.

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How are portfolios evaluated?

• A committee of teachers (including the course
  instructor) makes a pass/fail decision the
  instructor assigns the grade.
• The instructor grades the portfolio.
• The instructor grades only the students
  reflective essay, which uses the portfolio for
  evidence.

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How can I use portfolios this semester?

• Open or closed, a low-stakes evidence portfolio
  with a reflective letter can
• 1. encourage student responsibility,
• 2. reinforce methods of argumentation,
• 3. give you a better idea of student abilities
  and improvement, and
• 4. give you a chance to assign ungraded writing.

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Portfolios can reward revision

• A writing folder, or a combination portfolio
  which includes some earlier drafts as well as
  finished products, will help prevent academic
  dishonesty and will encourage revision.
• You can allow students to revise papers for the
  portfolio without giving them new grades on the
  papers.

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What do I tell the students?

• First of all, give them a chance to prepare tell
  them at the start, and put it on the syllabus.
• Prepare for common questions, which may come
  later.
• Give guidelines, as with any other assignment.
• Encourage students to keep copies (or submit
  electronically).

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How do I start a teaching portfolio?

• Teaching portfolios can be used to support an
  application for a new job or a promotion, to
  practice what we preach, or to improve ones
  teaching.
• You might include a syllabus, handouts, and
  assignment sheets for each class taught, letters
  of recommendation written for students, thank-you
  notes from students.