Student portfolios: documenting success.

Student portfolios: documenting success. Traditionally, portfolios have been used as a visual arts visual artsnpl → artes fpl pl��sticasvisual artsnpl → arts mpl plastiquesvisual artsnpl → toolshowcasing an artist's accomplishments and personally favoredworks. Today, maintaining a portfolio in the classroom has been found tohave many uses both to the teacher and the student. And the contents arejust as diverse as the students who create them. A folder--paper orelectronic--containing a student's work from start to finish allowsthe teacher and the student to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses ofvarious works. Whatever medium or method is used, the value ofdeveloping a student portfolio is priceless price��less?adj.1. Of inestimable worth; invaluable.2. Highly amusing, absurd, or odd: a priceless remark. . A well-kept portfolio mirrors the comprehension comprehensionAct of or capacity for grasping with the intellect. The term is most often used in connection with tests of reading skills and language abilities, though other abilities (e.g., mathematical reasoning) may also be examined. and performance ofa student. New instructional approaches emphasizing the student's role inunderstanding what, why and how they are doing have increased the valueof portfolios and the appreciation of portfolios as an assessment toolfor classroom-based performance. Many educators and researchers feelthat a portfolio assessment is a superior and more accurate indicator ofstudent progress than the more conventional types of assessment. And,unlike separate testing that takes away from instructional time, studentportfolios supplement the learning process. Students develop a betterunderstanding of the criteria used in the grading process by having avisual reference such as the portfolio. Motivation to meet the criteriaincreases, and the results are a better understanding of the process andmaterials. Students, teachers and parents are able to view the progressmade over the course of a semester se��mes��ter?n.One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year.[German, from Latin (cursus) s , a school year and beyond. There is no single correct way to develop a student portfolio.However, portfolios are not meant to include everything a studentproduces. By having clear guidelines guidelines,n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. and examples of what is required toassemble a portfolio, the student will begin to generate criteria forgood work. Students are expected to "collect, select andreflect." Students become active learners when they assume ownership of theirlearning. Suddenly, the classroom becomes student centered instead ofteacher centered. Students take an active role in the decision-makingprocess for materials they would like to include in their portfolios.They become the authors of their own academic success. The Paper Portfolio vs. the Electronic Portfolio One way to assemble a portfolio, and perhaps the most common, issimply placing selected materials into folders with the student'swork. Various sections may be marked off, from "studentprofile" to "career aspirations aspirationsnpl → aspiraciones fpl(= ambition); ambici��n faspirationsnpl (= hopes, ambition) → aspirations fpl." As stated earlier,there is no one right way for the portfolio process as long as it is anorderly orderly/or��der��ly/ (or��der-le) an attendant in a hospital who works under the direction of a nurse. or��der��lyn.An attendant in a hospital. and accurate representation of the student and his/her work. The patented Future Planner Portfolio (published by TalentAssessment, Inc.) is an innovative academic, career and personal plannerdeveloped by Bob Douce a. 1. Sweet; pleasant.2. Sober; prudent; sedate; modest.And this is a douce, honest man.- Sir W. Scott. . Douce, who is retired after 35 years in education helping studentswith career, technical and academic challenges, says, "I developedthe Future Planner to help students become organized and structured withtheir goals and planning. The Portfolio provides for career development,academic planning and sequential course learning." Douce believes in encouraging students to take ownership andresponsibility for their educational and career planning. "The Future Planner Portfolio may be customized to meet theneeds of students in any school," says Douce. "I have foundthat customized portfolios give a personal identity and focus to theschool and enhanced learning to students." The Future Planner Portfolio is unique in that it is durable,expandable and has six to eight insert attachable sections forstudents' documents, achievements and records. The comprehensiveplanner includes numerous components for students achieving a successfulseamless transition to college and/or employment. Some of thesecomponents include: * Student Profile * Academic requirements for graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. (four- to seven-year plan) * Local/state/federal standards for graduation/career * Career electives required for student's occupational choice * Grade level timelines and check offs * Individual Career Path Diary for ninth grade-postsecondary(Includes: steps to take each year, assessment test scores, communityservice projects, volunteer services, work experiences, internships,attendance, accountability, etc.) * Career interest, inventories: ASVAB ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery , personality, etc. * Class schedule--nine-12, six-12, etc. * Certification requirements for student's major, technical orcareer program in secondary and postsecondary levels * Second year college insert page (requirements, programs, etc.) * Value/strength inventories * Specific career related test/assessments used: post exams,fed/local/state technical exams, etc. * Internships, career related work experience opportunities * Student documents: resumes, applications, letters of inquiry,projects, achievements, skill applications "The Future Planner helps students to maintain their focus. Itis designed to hold important documents and records," explainsDouce. "It is flexible for students' use in all school systemswith different requirements. The planner can be specifically geared orcustomized to meet a student's career focus program, collegepreparatory pre��par��a��to��ry?adj.1. Serving to make ready or prepare; introductory. See Synonyms at preliminary.2. Relating to or engaged in study or training that serves as preparation for advanced education: program and/or employment goal." On the other side of the coin, counselors, teachers, administratorsand parents can counsel, evaluate and measure the student'saccountability through the portfolio process. Douce has worked with career and technical schools in developingprograms that meet the specific needs of their students. "All students in a technical school can use the samePortfolio," explains Douce. "Specific programs are color coded Noun 1. color code - system using colors to designate classificationscode - a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy and can be attached to the appropriate six/eight attachable sections inthe planner. For instance, nursing students may use red inserts, whilethe aspiring as��pire?intr.v. as��pired, as��pir��ing, as��pires1. To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly: aspired to stardom.2. electricians are using blue inserts." A well-kept portfolio is very useful for those tech schools witharticulation articulationIn phonetics, the shaping of the vocal tract (larynx, pharynx, and oral and nasal cavities) by positioning mobile organs (such as the tongue) relative to other parts that may be rigid (such as the hard palate) and thus modifying the airstream to produce speech agreements, and Douce has created a user friendly one withhis Future Planner Portfolio. "Students can use the portfolio to check off certificationrequirements that lead to college credits. They may also check offindividual requirements during high school while taking a specificcourse or after completing the course," says Douce. "Variouscertifications can be defined for students in specific career programs,such as course, industry, employment, state and apprenticeship apprenticeship,system of learning a craft or trade from one who is engaged in it and of paying for the instruction by a given number of years of work. The practice was known in ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as in modern Europe and to some extent certifications." Talent Assessment Inc. is in the process of developing anElectronic Future Planner. Douce says that he continuously talks with people across thecountry and finds that most people want a hard copy, something tangibleto work on, monitor progress and to which they can attach resumes,applications, projects, and other student achievements and certificates. "There are schools that do not have enough or any computersavailable, and they do not have the funding to equip e��quip?tr.v. e��quipped, e��quip��ping, e��quips1. a. To supply with necessities such as tools or provisions.b. the school with thehardware and software needed for such a program," explains Douce."There will always be a place for original documents and the valuethey hold." Pupil Pages It is not surprising that portfolios have made their way online.There are several benefits to the online or electronic portfolio. Aswith the traditional portfolio, they are created with selective andpurposeful pur��pose��ful?adj.1. Having a purpose; intentional: a purposeful musician.2. Having or manifesting purpose; determined: entered the room with a purposeful look. collections of a student's work. Unlike theirpredecessors, however, electronic portfolios can include varied mediasuch as text, graphics, video and sound, going beyond the standardpen-and-paper submissions. Electronic portfolios also take up lessclassroom space, and that is always a plus for the teacher. Some of the other advantages in employing electronic portfolios arethe active learning involved in placing information on the website;allowing others to share in the process and viewing of the work online;accessibility and portability; ease in upgrading; and the value of atool that is easily shared among students, teachers, parents andadministration. As with the development of any portfolio, the electronicportfolio starts with a clear view of the purpose. Great portfoliosrequire considerable effort on the part of teacher and student alike,but this undertaking produces tangible results, a sense ofaccomplishment and motivation for the student. One provider of electronic portfolios is Online Solutions forEducators. Its trademarked Pupil Pages allows students to create andmaintain an online portfolio that will follow their progression inschool. At the end of the students' secondary schooling they havean organized and stylized styl��ize?tr.v. styl��ized, styl��iz��ing, styl��iz��es1. To restrict or make conform to a particular style.2. To represent conventionally; conventionalize. presentation of their accomplishments. Cindy Penchina of Online Solutions for Educators says, "PupilPages makes it easy to upload See download. upload - /uhp'lohd/ To transfer programs or data over a digital communications link from a smaller or peripheral "client" system to a larger or central "host" one.Opposite: download. original creative writing and artwork,music, movies or pdfs. There is a bio, resume and journal for eachstudent, and students can use a "Portfolio-2-Go" service tokeep their sites when moving out of a school district or aftergraduation." What about security for these online sites? "There is also a password protection so that the teachers andadministrators can control who can view student sites," explainsPenchina. "The school can also decide to password protect all thestudent sites so that visitors cannot get access to them without a username and password. We take into consideration the privacy issues whenworking with children very seriously." New York's Brewster Central School District The Brewster Central School District is composed of 5 different school buildings: Brewster High School (Brewster, NY) Henry H. Wells Middle School (Brewster, NY) C. V. Starr Intermediate School Garden Street Elementary School John F. introducedelectronic portfolios (using Pupil Pages) with a pilot program forgrades three through 12. Steve Moskowitz, Brewster's director of technology, says,"We are pretty happy with [Pupil Pages], and the teachers are verycomfortable with it. We have seen a definite improvement in instruction,and we are planning on formally incorporating the program in every gradefrom third through the 12th in the school district." He also notes, "Basically, in keeping with the No Child LeftBehind Act The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110), commonly known as NCLB (IPA: /ˈnɪkəlbiː/), is a United States federal law that was passed in the House of Representatives on May 23, 2001 , we were already thinking about promoting more technology,and we wanted to introduce web-based applications See Web application. . That was thedirection we wanted to go, but we needed to have applications on bothsides of the desk." The year before, web pages were implemented to all ofBrewster's teachers, and it worked well. "We have over 300 web pages on our system for all toview", says Moskowitz. "We have clearly seen a substantialimprovement in teachers' technical skill, based on assessmentsgiven before and after the project. We worked with the teachers firstand monitored the systemic systemic/sys��tem��ic/ (sis-tem��ik) pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. sys��tem��icadj.1. Of or relating to a system.2. growth with technology. We got them to acomfortable place with online environments, posting information relevantto their programs, and empowering them. This year our strategy hasturned toward the students. When we approached Penchina with ourspecifications for a tool we wanted written, we basically flushed flush?1?v. flushed, flush��ing, flush��esv.intr.1. To turn red, as from fever, embarrassment, or strong emotion; blush.2. outthe problems, and now we have a program that is simple enough for theteachers and the students to use." One of the focuses Moskowitz had in developing the program with theprovider was making sure it did not require too much customization."The tool forces the student to spend more time actuallyworking," he notes. "Many kids are working harder, and you cansee it in the revisions they make on their work. It forces them toreflect." A distinct advantage of the electronic portfolio is the ability tobroaden the audience, and that has increased the students' desireto improve. "Now, the student's grandma, who may be located acrossthe country, and other family members can view the portfolio,"explains Moskowitz. "Many kids work a lot harder knowing thatothers can see their efforts and successes, too." The Brewster School District Brewster School District can mean: Rural school districts in Washington#Brewster School District Brewster School District, Minnesota. communicated with parents openly andfrequently about the development of the program and offered an opt-outfor those parents who still felt uneasy with the program. In addressing the site's security, Moskowitz says, "Whenwe first started looking at sites, we noticed there were some with thestudents' names and some personal information, and we didn'twant that. We wanted a site that students, teachers and parents wouldfeel secure working with. We use no names and have a total log-inscenario. There are two levels of security just to view it, which meansto access the Brewster District Pupil Pages you would have to know theuser name log-in and their password." Moskowitz's advice for schools considering an electronicportfolio system is to look into how it works with the school'sspecific program or criteria, and let the program drive the technology,not the other way around. Using Both Paper and Electronic Portfolios ACTE ACTE Association for Career and Technical Education (formerly American Vocational Association)ACTE Association of Corporate Travel ExecutivesACTE Approvals Committee for Terminal EquipmentACTE Anodal Closure Tetanus member Gay Johnston is employed as Gordon Cooper Leroy Gordon "Gordo" Cooper, Jr. (March 6 1927 – October 4 2004) was an American astronaut. He was one of the original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned-space effort by the United States. Early yearsCooper was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. TechnologyCenter's (GCTC GCTC Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)GCTC Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Centre (Zvyozdny Gorodok Star City, Moscow OB, Russia)GCTC Gulf Coast Town Center ) graphic design instructor. Johnston's studentsmaintain a paper portfolio that illustrates the projects they havecompleted and job skills they have learned, and they also produce adigital portfolio. "My philosophy of education includes the fact that I mustfirst set the example for my students. I take pride in my work bykeeping an up-to-date portfolio," Johnston says. "In the computer graphic design program that I teach, thestudents earn points toward the purchase of a leather portfolio. Inthis, a student places his best work to show during an employmentinterview," explains Johnston. "Because our program coversseveral types of software, a student could have several sections ofwork, with the key sections being page layout :For the Wikipedia policy about articles layout, see Wikipedia:Guide to layout.Page layout is the part of graphic design that deals in the arrangement and style treatment of elements (content) on a page. , photo manipulation Photo manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create an illusion or deception (in contrast to mere enhancement or correction), through analog or digital means. anddrawing. All work is printed on a color printer A printer that prints in color using three (CMY) or four (CMYK) colors of ink, toner or dye. Four color ribbons have been used in dot matrix printers, but these are rare today. See color laser printer and printer. and mounted to matteboard for the best presentation." Johnston takes the same key elements and has the students designand produce a digital portfolio using Adobe adobe(ədō`bē): see rammed earth. adobeHandmade sun-dried bricks formed from a mixture of heavy clay and straw found in arid regions. Acrobat Document exchange software from Adobe that allows documents to be displayed and printed the same on every computer. The Acrobat system created the Portable Document Format (PDF), which is widely used in commercial printing and on the Web. See PDF. . Students burn thisinformation on a CD to leave with prospective employers as a handyreference. "Currently, I am working on a website that will incorporatethese portfolios and allow the students to update as their careerprogresses," she notes. "The Gordon Cooper Technology Center Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Shawnee, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. Trade & Industrial(T&I) Education program has taken portfolio development to the nextstep in providing a way to illustrate the range of assignment, goals andrecord of activities for students in a given program," explainsJohnston. Jodie Eiland, GCTC's residential/ commercial constructioninstructor uses certificates extensively in his program. When a studentcompletes a unit, he or she receives a certificate of completion thatincludes the specific objectives of the unit and can be placed in theportfolio. The prospective employer can see exactly what skills theinterviewee possesses. Johnston adds, "In the T&I arena, student portfolios areused as a showcase for the skills a student has developed in hisdesignated program. It is a pictorial representation of the skillsdeveloped, showing the growth and accuracy of the student'swork." Johnston has placed emphasis on students becoming prepared for theinterview process that they will face once leaving school. She guidesher students in the collecting, selecting and reflecting of works to beplaced in the portfolio that is used as a marketing tool to prospectiveemployers. Resumes, course objectives, course projects, completioncertificates, student organization certificates and awards, state andnational competency COMPETENCY, evidence. The legal fitness or ability of a witness to be heard on the trial of a cause. This term is also applied to written or other evidence which may be legally given on such trial, as, depositions, letters, account-books, and the like. 2. certifications, and references are included in theportfolio. "When a student can go to an interview armed with his bestwork, a definite level of confidence is gained," explains Johnston."Many times, when placed against others without a portfolio, thestudent interviewing with one has a better chance of being hired simplybecause the employer sees what the student is capable of doing. This isyet another way of teaching our students about real-lifeexperience." The growing interest in the development of portfolios promptedJohnston and Eiland to present at the ACTE Annual Convention in Orlandolast December. The topic, "A T&I Perspective: Creating StudentPortfolios," examined the process of compiling com��pile?tr.v. com��piled, com��pil��ing, com��piles1. To gather into a single book.2. To put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources: student-managedportfolios in the digital and notebook versions to enhance studentprogress, productivity and marketability MarketabilityA negotiable security is said to have good marketability if there is an active secondary market in which it can easily be resold.marketabilityThe ease with which an investment may be bought and sold in the secondary market. . "Along with individual progress charts, the portfolio can addmotivation to students in the classroom," says Johnston. "Withso many hands-on activities in the classroom, I use the progress chartto help students keep a record of completed assignments and the gradereceived. As the student continues to add to a portfolio, a sense ofpride emanates from seeing his work and the progress made. As thestudent sees this progress, it motivates him to continue to develop andproduce." As further proof to her students in illustrating how an individualcan progress, Johnston keeps her own portfolio available to her studentsto review at any time. Her portfolio contains her very first item shecreated up to the most current. "This allows my students to see my development as adesigner," Johnston says. "It shows them that I, too, startedsimple and expanded my horizons. By seeing this transformation, thestudents begin to realize that designing is a lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. process." For Further Exploration These are some of the sources for more information on developingstudent portfolios. Portfolio Providers and Websites Talent Assessment, Inc. P.O. Box 5087 Jacksonville, FL 32247 1-800-634-1472 www.talentassessment.com e-mail: talenta@bellsouth.net Contact: Bob Douce Online Solutions for Educators www.os4e.com You can try a free demo demo - /de'moh/ 1. A demonstration of a product, often of an early version or prototype. A demo is a far more effective way of inducing bugs to manifest themselves than any number of test runs, especially when important people are watching.2. demo version.3. of Pupil Pages! Contact: Cindy Penchina Creating Electronic Portfolios On the Alphabet alphabet[Gr. alpha-beta, like Eng. ABC], system of writing, theoretically having a one-for-one relation between character (or letter) and phoneme (see phonetics). Few alphabets have achieved the ideal exactness. Superhighway superhighway - information superhighway www.ash.udel.edu/ash/teacher/portfolio.html Books and Publications Creating Portfolios: For Success in School, Work, and Life, byMartin Kimeldorf and Pamela Espeland The Portfolio Organizer: Succeeding With Portfolios in YourClassroom, by Carol Rolheiser, Barbara Bower and Laurie Stevahn The Portfolio Book: A Step-By-Step Guide for Teachers, by CathyGrace, Elizabeth F. Shores and Kathy Charner An Introduction to Using Portfolios in the Classroom, by CharlotteDanielson and Leslye Abrutyn (You can find all of these on www.amazon.com.) Creating Your High School Portfolio, Second Edition is from JIST JIST Juneau Information Service TechnologyJIST Joint Imagery Soft-copy TrainerJIST JSF Integrated Subsystems TechnologyJIST Joint Interagency Support TeamJIST Maybe you're looking for the word 'Gist' meaning the central idea? Publishing, which also publishes Creating Your High School Resume,Second Edition. The accompanying support materials include theInstructor's Guide for Creating Your High School Portfolio andCreating Your High School Resume. For more information, see the ad onpage 10 in this issue of Techniques, or visit www.jist.com.