Let’s define a Portfolio:Let’s define a Portfolio:

An accumulation of student An accumulation of student work, collected over time,work, collected over time,

that exhibits the skills and that exhibits the skills and abilities he/she possesses.abilities he/she possesses.

Why Use a Portfolio?Why Use a Portfolio?

Potential employers are better able to Potential employers are better able to evaluate your abilities. evaluate your abilities.

They are cumulative and therefore They are cumulative and therefore include only your best work.include only your best work.

They require They require youyou to take an active, to take an active, responsible role in responsible role in youryour education. education.

They focus on what you They focus on what you cancan do. do.

Components of a Portfolio:Components of a Portfolio:

Career Development PackageCareer Development PackageWork SamplesWork SamplesWriting SamplesWriting SamplesWork Experience Evaluation Work Experience Evaluation

and Skill Listand Skill List

Career Development Package:Career Development Package:

Individual Career Plan *Individual Career Plan *Letter of Introduction *Letter of Introduction *Resume *Resume *Job or College application *Job or College application *Letter(s) of recommendation *Letter(s) of recommendation *Activities, Honors, AchievementsActivities, Honors, Achievements

Work SamplesWork Samples

A very important part of the portfolio!!A very important part of the portfolio!! work samples document skills and work samples document skills and

abilities that you currently possess!abilities that you currently possess! each work sample should contain a each work sample should contain a

descriptive summary and its importance descriptive summary and its importance to you *to you *

Work samples can take many forms.…Work samples can take many forms.…

Typical work samples!!Typical work samples!!

Schematics, drawings, designs, Schematics, drawings, designs, and creativity developed by youand creativity developed by you

Pictures of you performing Pictures of you performing some related task like… some related task like… changing oil or skiing or ...changing oil or skiing or ...

A video of a sales presentation *A video of a sales presentation *

Writing SamplesWriting Samples

The student exhibits effective The student exhibits effective writing skills on a technical writing skills on a technical subject:subject:Communication skillsCommunication skillsSubject matter knowledge *Subject matter knowledge *

Work Experience documentation:Work Experience documentation:

School to Work Profile *School to Work Profile * Skills list *Skills list * SCANS Competencies *SCANS Competencies * Employer evaluation *Employer evaluation * Documentation of work Documentation of work

experience experience

The Portfolio Presentation:The Portfolio Presentation:

What should the final portfolio look like?What should the final portfolio look like? depends upon the studentdepends upon the student

computer diskcomputer disk binder or other type of folderbinder or other type of folder Internet????Internet????

All should require:All should require: Table of Contents *Table of Contents * Professional appearanceProfessional appearance

The Electronic Portfolio:The Electronic Portfolio:

Benefits:Benefits:Easier to transport Easier to transport Facilitates storage and grading Facilitates storage and grading Students can easily update and modify Students can easily update and modify

portfolio entriesportfolio entriesHard copies can be downloaded and used Hard copies can be downloaded and used

upon demandupon demandMore economical for the schoolMore economical for the school

Questions?Questions?

Where are they stored?Where are they stored?How are they stored?How are they stored?Copyright considerationsCopyright considerationsPlagiarismPlagiarismWhat next?What next?

Remember.......Remember.......

Trying something new isn’t always easy Trying something new isn’t always easy nor is it always successful.…nor is it always successful.…

But your preparation in developing an But your preparation in developing an electronic portfolio can potentially electronic portfolio can potentially give you the advantage in a hiring give you the advantage in a hiring situation! situation!

Good luck with those portfolios!Good luck with those portfolios!

James Madison High SchoolJames Madison High School

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