Arguing for Yourself in theProduction of an Effective Portfolio

Class, Personal, and Career Portfolios: Reasons and

Methods

A student who can argue for “the self”

Has a career goal in mind Develops professionally Becomes outstanding in his/her

career Is a valuable community and

family member

The Portfolio aids in the fashioning of the individual

through the power of the written word

using a variety of life artifacts

As our favorite writers create characters on paper, so can our students construct their professional identities

What makes portfolio production meaningful to students at IVY Tech?

They have a career goal in mind

Plan of study View to graduation Issuance into a career field “Goal Mode” helps then focus on

self-discovery

They want to develop professionally Portfolio production enables them to

move from a point of fear to a position of confidence

It helps them construct themselves through the power of the written word

They learn to argue for a sense of their own “being-ness”

Their formation takes place on a deeper level

They seek to be outstanding in their career Portfolio production is a process It is well-thought-out It is highly-organized It defines stages of progress It examines sources of influence It demonstrates the power of those

influences in their own decision-making process

Portfolio Production forces reflection and consideration Students take time to look at their

present in terms of their past and their future

They breathe in and breathe out They employ self-examination They become more focused They exhibit a more positive attitude

both in class and toward their career

They develop a more professional outlook both for themselves …

…and through the matrix of people they encounter daily

Students become more valuable community and family members

VALUE STANDARDS CONCERNS ENCOURAGEMENT REGARD PURPOSE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATE

So how do we go about it?

PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION METHODS

Every class can benefit by portfolio production

You must model the process Have clear requirements Encourage excellence Both written material and “artifacts”

complement each other in the process

Create a sample portfolio

List of goals Special projects Progress essays Course reflections Cover page/End page Setting and accomplishing goals

The class subject portfolio

Organize ideas Set goals for the class Reflect on how goals have been

met Adaptable to your own subject

area

The personal portfolio

Allows reflection on meaningful people and events of the past

Encourages self-examination Enables students to recognize

sources of strength and weakness Helps students visualize their

academic and career goals

The career portfolio

Allows reflection on career choices and people and events that have helped shape those choices

Includes a variety of artifacts that build a professional image

Professional excellence depends on you

Model the process Give your students a sense of who

you are Demonstrate that portfolio

production enhances learning

It’s not just busy work: it enhances their learning

The portfolio is a practical application of academic work

It can be simple or elaborate It is a physical demonstration It gives clarity to the value of the

class It places value on their

participation in their own learning process

The portfolio is your gift to your students

Encourage them toward success