Reading Discussion 3 Answer

Eportfolios serve the dual function as assessments OF learning and assessments FOR learning. They
provide evidence OF learning by allowing students to collect artifacts which highlight scholastic
accomplishments. For example, students would want to include classroom management plans, lesson
plans, and educational philosophy in their eportfolio. They function as assessments FOR learning in two
different ways. First, the mere creation of the eportfolio itself is a learning experience which can be
used to assess the students grasp of new technologies. Second, an effective eportfolio will include
reflections as to why the student chose each particular artifact. What makes X lesson plan worthy of
being included? Why was the classroom management plan included and why is it important to the
student?
Eportfolios provide evidence-based learning assessments in ways that grades and transcripts do not. A
prospective employer can see a letter grade on a transcript but it really says nothing about the quality of
the work that the student produced. An eportfolio allows the prospective employer to see the actual
completed assignments that produced those grades.
Eportfolios can be used as lifelong learning experiences because students can continue to use them for
self-reflection after they have left the university. A lesson plan designed in undergrad for a hypothetical
student can differ greatly from a lesson plan that one would design after actual teaching experience. So
the now experienced teacher can assess why certain lesson plans have been more effective than others.
Probably most realistically, the eportfolio would be used as a resume for experienced teachers to
highlight their best lesson plans.