Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary Grades

(Philippine History and Government)

Lesson 22: Designing Learning

Portfolios in Social Studies

ASSESS
Answer the following questions.

1. What is the best thing to remember in planning for portfolio assessment?

Answer: The best thing to remember in planning for portfolio assessment is the
idea that it is not like a traditional type of assessment that can be done in a short
while. Portfolio assessment necessitates time and effort from both teachers and
learners. As futureb teachers and implementers of assessment, we must know
that there is no shortcut in attaining the goals of portfolio assessment. Most of
the time, the success of this kind of assessment is dependent on how teachers
manifested the requisites of the portfolio assessment and is greatly dependent
on how they view the assessment process.

2. How important is the knowledge and skills of teachers to the success of

portfolio assessment?

Answer: The knowledge and skills of teachers are really important to the success
of portfolio assessment because these may serve as a foundation in creating a
portfolio assessment. The teachers must be able acquire the said knowledge and
skills for her to know what needs to be assessed and the instructions in doing the
portfolio should be identified and emphasized. In addition, the portfolio must also
demonstrate and highlight the knowledge and skills learned and acquired by the
students. The progress must be evident as well. In this way, the strengths and
weaknesses will be highlighted. With knowledge and skills, the portfolio that will
be made will surely become a great instrument in assessing and developing the
teaching and learning process.

HARNESS
Create a concept web using the word below. Then, based on the associated words,
create your own principles to be followed when implementing a portfolio
assessment.
Your own principles.

⚫ Multisourced

This is allowing for the opportunity to evaluate a variety of specific evidence.

Multiple data sources include both people (statements and observations of
participants, teachers or program staff, parents, and community members), and
artifacts (anything from test scores to photos, drawings, journals, & audio or
videotapes of performances).

⚫ Authentic

This means that the context and evidence are directly linked. The items
selected or produced for evidence should be related to program activities, as
well as the goals and criteria. If the portfolio is assessing the effect of a
program on participants or communities, then the "evidence" should reflect the
activities of the program rather than skills that were gained elsewhere.

⚫ Dynamic

This means capturing growth and change. An important feature of portfolio

assessment is that data or evidence is added at many points in time, not just as
"before and after" measures. Rather than including only the best work, the
portfolio should include examples of different stages of mastery. At least some
of the items are self-selected. This allows a much richer understanding of the
process of change.

⚫ Integrated

This means that the evidence should establish a correspondence between

program activities and life experiences. Participants should be asked to
demonstrate how they can apply their skills or knowledge to real-life situations.

⚫ Based on ownership

This means that the participant helps determine evidence to include and goals
to be met. The portfolio assessment process should require that the
participants engage in some reflection and self-evaluation as they select the
evidence to include and set or modify their goals. They are not simply being
evaluated or graded by others.
⚫ Multipurposed

This means allowing assessment of the effectiveness of the program while

assessing performance of the participant. A well-designed portfolio assessment
process evaluates the effectiveness of your intervention at the same time that
it evaluates the growth of individuals or communities. It also serves as a
communication tool when shared with family, other staff, or community
members. In school settings, it can be passed on to other teachers or staff as a
child moves from one grade level to another.