Portfolios

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

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).

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.

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 student’s reflective essay, which uses the portfolio for evidence.

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.

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.

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).

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 one’s 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.