Portfolio is a means of providing authentic assessment in the literacy classroom. A portfolio is a collection of artifacts which document students' development over time. Students can use portfolios to document their experiences, growth and development and to journal reading and writing activities. Students are encouraged to select pieces which would reflect their growth over a period. Portfolio assessment encourages student involvement in the selection process.
Portfolios are used by many in today's literacy classroom and can be motivational to students as they encourage student involvement in the entire assessment. Thus, students become more actively engaged and their self esteem or self efficacy are enhanced. Portfolios can be used in Parent/Teacher Conferences as they can be used as a measure of students' accomplishments over a period. They can encourage students to make a connection between the process and the product.
Portfolios encourage students to take ownership of their work as they select items to placed in portfolios. As such, students can use pieces to reflect their individual growth and strengths in particular areas. They can use reading or learning logs and journals to chart their reflections on their growth and development.
I absolutely love the concept of portfolio assessment. Unfortunately though I think we spoil it by dictating what should be in them. I am not referring to rubrics, but I question the limitations on the creativity of the student and the true 'reflectiveness' when we deny them choice in their selection. As far as I am aware and please correct me if I am wrong,the child is supposed to follow the rubric and insert pieces of his choice which meet the specifications of the rubric, complete with captions for the artifacts and reflective pieces justifying his selections.My question is, can we justifiably call a preselected set of pieces (chosen by the teacher)a true portfolio?
ReplyDeleteI think we need to explore portfolio assessment and utilize it more and more in our classrooms.
Regards