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Flavors of Documentation
The instructor will look for the following kinds of information in
learning portfolios. Most likely, each portfolio will be strong in some
areas and not so strong in others. That is, the pattern of strength will
differ from one portfolio to another.
Evidence of consistent, continuing effort throughout the learning
period
Evidence of critical thinking, involving any combination of the
following elements:
- Analysis
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Synthesis
- Evaluation
- Connection with other material
- Connection with personal experience
Evidence of thoroughness in completion of assignments
Evidence of independent pursuit of ideas and information beyond the
assigned material
Evidence of originality and creativity in the learner's engagement
with the topic
Evidence of quality in the products of the learning process, whether
those products are primarily intellectual, applied, philosophical,
spiritual, aesthetic, or in some other domain |
Submitting Your Learning Portfolio
Identify the kinds of material in your portfolio by putting each kind
in a different folder, putting each in a different section of a ring
binder, marking each with different colored highlighters, or whatever
method works for you. Not all types are required, though reflective
writing is particularly important. Simply include the ones you collect in
your portfolio and add categories as needed. Some types of information
are:
- class notes,
- reading notes,
- reflective writing/learning journal,
- course-relevant articles accompanied by your thoughtful response,
- course-relevant creative productions,
- course papers (including preliminary drafts)
At the front of
your portfolio, include these three documents:
a Guide to This Portfolio explaining what it contains and how to find
each kind of information
a statement of What I Have Learned in This Course and what material in
the portfolio documents each thing learned (this statement is not to be a
laundry list of picky details but an account of the changes in your
understanding as a result of the course)
a statement of the grade you think you have earned in the course along
with an explanation showing how the material in the portfolio supports
that grade |