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Every student is different. So
why do we judge them based on the same criteria?
Why not celebrate their strengths and help them
overcome their weaknesses? Why not reduce the emphasis on grades,
and in their place create an in-depth portrait of the student's
intellectual development?
Portfolio assessment provides educators with
a better way to evaluate their students. Students gain valuable
insight into their personal learning process, while teachers can
determine the most effective lesson plan possible.
Are you ready to give your students their best
chance to excel? Then consider implementing the three stages involved
in using student portfolios:
| • |
planning to adopt
portfolio assessment |
| • |
the portfolio process |
| • |
grading the portfolio |
This article provides a quick overview of the
first two stages.
Planning To Adopt Portfolio Assessment
| • |
Tell your principal
about your plans |
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| • |
Look back on past classes
and be honest with yourself: where have you been lacking? When
grading, what skills have you undervalued? Create an approach
to portfolio assessment that will complement your past weaknesses.
Set clear goals for your class. |
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| • |
Portfolios should contain
a variety of materials, including but not limited to: essays,
stories, videotapes of visual work, journal entries, teacher
evaluations, and self-assessment sheets. |
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| • |
Print up self-assessment
sheets that students can fill out. The template should include
room for students to list what they perceive to be the strengths
and weaknesses of each piece, and how they might be able to
improve. |
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| • |
Discuss the process with
your students. Explain to them what you hope to accomplish
and brainstorm together to determine what else might be included
in the portfolio. |
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| • |
Show students examples
of successful portfolios. |
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|
| • |
Explain to your students that
portfolios will be taking over a part of the curriculum,
rather than simply adding to it. |
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| • |
For writing assignments,
be sure to have a set number of drafts and a rigid procedure.
Many students will fail to see the value of the rewriting process
until it has been completed. |
The Portfolio Process
| • |
Store portfolios
where students have access to them. |
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| • |
Allow students to help
choose what material goes in. |
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Always date every item. |
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Be sure to collect work that
builds towards a larger understanding of the learning process.
Do not collect randomly. |
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| • |
To best tailor your lesson
plans to your students' needs, use the clearer picture of
your students that their portfolios provide. |
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| • |
Make portfolio content
as diverse as possible. |
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|
| • |
Hold private conferences
frequently to discuss progress on individual student portfolios. |
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| • |
Let students delete portfolio
content (after consulting with you first). Be sure they
provide a reasonable explanation. |
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| • |
Allow students to submit
material of their own design. |
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