Portfolios

A portfolio is a collection of a student's work over a period of time (a term, a year), which can be used for assessment by both the teacher and by the student. It can include special problem-solving tasks, writings, investigations, projects, and reports—even photographs of students working individually, in a group, or on a project. These items can be presented not only on paper but also on audio- or videotapes and/or computer disks.

By dating each of the entries, the student (and the teacher) can use the portfolio to see the growth of a body of work. Portfolios can be "learner-managed" (organized by the student), teacher-managed, or both, although a teacher of lower grade levels should give students specific directions as to how to organize their portfolios. It can also be valuable to give a student a portfolio project over consecutive years, in order to observe the evolution of that student's understanding.