Jillian Brimigion

Activity 10.4 Revising an Existing Student Portfolio System

After reading the section “Tracking and Reflecting on Learning with Portfolios,” work independently or

with a colleague to complete the following activity. Use the Portfolio System Auditing Form to keep

track of your judgments.

1. Determine what type of portfolio you have assembled. If it includes a combination of

purposes, determine whether it works well for you that way or if you want to narrow the

focus or separate it into two or more different types of portfolios.

a. My portfolio was just a google document before. It was not very visually pleasing, and it

lacked organization.

2. Examine the contents called for in your portfolio system.

• Is it clear what learning target or targets are the focus of the portfolio?

▪ My portfolio was unclear and lacked specific targets

• Do the artifacts called for all align with the purpose of the portfolio? Do they all work to

tell the story the portfolio is designed to tell?

▪ The artifacts aligned with the purpose of the portfolio, but more artifacts are needed

• For growth, achievement, and competence portfolios, have all artifacts been assessed

before or during selection?

▪ All artifacts have been reviewed and assessed before being added

• Have sampling issues been adequately addressed?

▪ Yes samples so a variety of professional development and family collaboration.

• Is there sufficient opportunity for student ownership of the contents?

• Are individual work samples annotated with helpful information?

1
 ▪ Each artifact includes a reflection and justification of what educational practice it

focuses on.

• Are students provided an opportunity to reflect on the portfolio as a whole?

• Has student goal setting been incorporated, if appropriate?

▪ Goal setting is included with a plan of action attached to the portfolio.

3. Audit your portfolio process according to the four recommendations in the section “Keys to

Successful Use” on pages 385 through 387 in the text.

4. Make any changes suggested by your work in steps 1, 2, and 3.

Portfolio System Auditing Form

1. Type of portfolio: Teaching Porfolio

Decisions:
__X____Narrow the focus?

______Separate into two or more different portfolios?

2. Contents and requirements:

Criterion Y S N Comments
Clear learning targets X

Required artifacts aligned with portfolio X

purpose

Artifacts assessed before or during X

selection, if appropriate

Sampling issues identified and addressed X Sampling needs to be addressed still

Opportunity for student ownership X

2
 Work samples annotated with helpful X
information

Opportunity for reflection on the X

portfolio as a whole

Opportunity for goal setting, if X

appropriate

Viable sharing opportunity for each X Not many opportunities to share the
student portfolio with peers or receive feedback.

Key:
Y = Yes, all, or completely
S = Some or partially
N = No, none, or not yet

3
3. Keys to Successful Use:

Keys to Successful Use Y S N Comments

Accuracy of Evidence: X Evidence aligns with goals
Each entry provides accurate evidence of
the intended learning.

Ease of Use: X Portfolio is clear and easy to understand.

My portfolio organization and Information is thorough.
management system works well for me
and my students.

Student Engagement: X I needed some more assistance and

I have prepared students in advance to do feedback on my portfolio
as much of the work of keeping
portfolios as they can.

Safety: X The reflection is open to my opinions and

I have set norms with students to make perspectives
the portfolio process feel safe.

Key:
Y = Yes, all, or completely
S = Some or partially
N = No, none, or not yet

Reflection:

Through this process I was able to revise and improve my teaching portfolio. I narrowed my

focus to add professional development and family collaboration. I now feel happy with the construction

of my portfolio. I wish I had more opportunities for peer review for my portfolio. When I use portfolios

with my students, I will be sure to have multiple opportunities where they can get peer reviews and

reviews from the teacher and have multiple chances to improve their portfolio before submission.