What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Portfolios…

File folders crammed full of endless work samples. Unorganized stacks of papers hidden away until an IEP meeting. Chaos…

When I first started teaching, I REALLY didn’t know how to set up a portfolio.

I randomly collected work samples, squirreling them away in case I needed them.

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

There was no clear organizational structure. My students certainly didn’t evaluate what work to include. In fact, my students were hardly aware that I was collecting work samples.

Maybe you’re better at this whole portfolio thing than I was. You probably are. It wouldn’t take much. But, if you’re feeling even a little lost with the whole portfolio thing, I’ll share what I learned over the years.

Portfolios done right are not chaotic at all!

(#OrganizationForTheWin)

They’re organized, purposeful, and structured to for success.

7 simple steps are all you need. You can plan a portfolio that’s perfectly manageable and easily maintained.

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Knowing what you want to accomplish makes it a lot more likely you’ll reach your goal.

(#BePurposeDriven!)

Portfolios generally fall into one of two main purposes. They’re either supporting instruction or serving an administrative purpose.

Supporting Instruction:

  • Portfolios can increase communication between students and teachers
  • They drive students to engage in work worthy of sharing
  • Portfolios can clarify the criteria for quality work
  • They can help students engage in self-reflection

Administrative Purposes:

  • Portfolios can provide a source of accountability reporting
  • They can be an assessment of student learning
  • Portfolios can serve as a tool for program evaluation
  • They can be an archive of a student’s work across time

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Rubrics are great for scoring portfolios. Of course, you don’t have to score them at all. The decision of whether to grade a portfolio depends on its purpose. Also, consider the age of your students and their role in putting the portfolio together.

A kindergarten teacher putting together a collection of their students’ artwork throughout the year to give parents at the end of the year probably shouldn’t grade it.

A fifth-grade teacher whose students create a portfolio to show their learning as part of a project-based unit might need to grade it.

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Did you know there two main types of portfolios? Portfolios can be process-oriented or product-oriented. You might also be looking for more of a data folder. (You can also combine elements of each type.)

Process-oriented portfolios focus on showing growth. They include:

  • Goal setting
  • Self-reflection
  • Reflections on obstacles to learning
  • Work from throughout the process
  • Rough draft

Product-oriented portfolios focus on reflecting on quality accomplishments. They include:

  • Finished products
  • Best samples (often chosen through self-selection)

Data Folders are an assessment record. They help show what a student has mastered with the goal of informing instructional planning. They contain:

  • Work samples
  • Tests
  • Informal assessment results

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

So, now that you know why you’re using developing a portfolio, whether you’re scoring it, and what kind of portfolio it will be. Next, decide how involved your students will be.

The level of involvement your students will have will vary by their age and by the purpose of the portfolio.

Consider these questions.

  • What level of student involvement is required to meet the portfolio’s purpose?
  • Who will decide what to include?
  • Will your students set goals?
  • Will self-reflection be included in the portfolio?
  • Who will be responsible for putting the portfolios together?

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Sure, portfolios can cover all subjects for the entire year. But, they don’t have to. They can cover just one subject or even just one project.

It’s really up to you what you want to include, just remember your purpose and have a plan.

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?
Storage can be a real challenge with portfolios, especially if you’re already short on space. Sometimes creating portfolios means keeping all of a student’s work until the student can self-select their best samples.

Sometimes creating portfolios means keeping all of a student’s work until the student can self-select their best samples. But, if you can have the student cull unnecessary samples at set points throughout the process it will cut down on your storage requirements. It’s especially helpful if you are doing a year-long portfolio.

You’ll also want to think about student accessibility if you plan to have the student be regularly involved in maintaining the portfolios.

Some storage ideas include:

  • Three-ring binders
  • File folders in crates
  • Display folders with prongs
  • Page protectors connected with metal rings

Going digital is another option. Digital portfolios can include pictures of work samples, scanned work, digitally created work, video clips, and even audio recordings.

Some options for creating digital portfolios include:

  • Kidblog
  • Edublogs
  • Evernote
  • Seesaw
  • Easy Portfolio

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Finally, portfolios are meant to be shared. They are a tool for communication.

They will be shared between the teacher and student. Eventually, they will either go home with the student or be passed onto the next teacher. So, plan for that.

Portfolios can be a part of student-led conferences before being passed onto the next teacher. Or, maybe you will send them home as an end of year gift.

Portfolios can be a great tool. Portfolios are manageable. Having a plan in place will make it a manageable process that can be fun for teachers and students.

What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?
What is the first decision that need to be made when developing a portfolio?

Which is the first decision that needs to be made when developing a portfolio?

Ascertaining your individual financial situation and goals is the first task in constructing a portfolio. Important items to consider are age and how much time you have to grow your investments, as well as the amount of capital to invest and future income needs.

What is the first step for using portfolios?

Step 1: The first step is to develop a process portfolio, which documents growth over time toward a goal. Documentation includes statements of the end goals, criteria, and plans for the future.

What should be done first when doing portfolio assessment?

Suggested steps:.
Determine the purpose of the portfolio. ... .
Identify the learning outcomes the portfolio will address. ... .
Decide what students will include in their portfolio. ... .
Identify or develop the scoring criteria (e.g., a rubric) to judge the quality of the portfolio..

What are the steps in developing portfolio?

Step 1: Assess the Current Situation..
Step 2: Establish Investment Goals..
Step 3: Determine Asset Allocation..
Step 4: Select Investment Options..
Step 5: Measure and Rebalance..