Creating portfolios

There are many different ways to collect data about students. We use assessment to understand the learner, to measure progress and to set goals. I have mentioned that I listen to the children reading to me and thinking out loud, observe them during math, or regularly read their journals. These are informal ways to gather data. I wrote about MAP test. This is a formal standardized assessment. Each assessment has its value. Piecing together info that I have collected from different assessments helps me to decide what experiences would help to meet each learner's needs.

Over the years I have found that one of the most powerful assessment strategies is a portfolio.
A portfolio is a purposeful collection of student work that tells a story of the student as a learner. Each chosen piece includes a self-reflection. It shows interests, habits, effort, knowledge, attitude, skills, progress, and goals in all subject areas. Creating a portfolio asks the learner to take charge. At ISE we don't create showcase portfolios with the best and most beautiful work. The portfolio may include sketches, drafts and even unfinished pieces if the learner is able to explain why she/he chose it.

So far I in my classes students have collected papers and printed out reflections to assemble between covers.

This year I am trying out electronic portfolios. Some of my students had experience with electronic portfolios last year. They used Keynote to do it. This year we are taking a different approach. What and how we plan to do, I will write in a future blog post.