Supporting and documenting Learning Outcomes (LOs) through portfolio
The Portfolio is a dedicated criteria-referenced method of supporting vocational skills and attributes and documenting learning outcomes which is increasingly recognised internationally. A virtue of the Portfolio in this context is its great adaptability to the needs and circumstances of people working in a wide variety of professional and commercial communities.
At the core of every Portfolio, however it might be arranged and presented, is a collection of carefully selected and highly informative material dedicated to the fullest possible revelation of a person’s knowledge, skills, attributes and experiences in particular fields at particular levels.
A Portfolio has clear criteria governing its compilation – such as the type and format of evidence that is essential and/or optional – and has clear criteria governing its evaluation – such as the levels of achievement, the emphasis placed upon quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Among the key features of Portfolios are
· The compiler chooses what should be included in a portfolio to fulfil the mandatory or optional requirements/criteria.
· It can be used to document development and progress over time.
· It can be used to serve different purposes – supporting the compiler’s learning processes, demonstrating learning outcomes, presenting specific skills and experiences in their contexts, and highlighting a chosen theme.
· It can include the compiler’s critical reflections on any aspect of the material s/he has chosen to include.
· It can be assessed formatively or summatively.
Some Portfolios have criteria for their compilation laid down by institutions, agencies, companies and accrediting bodies, while others can be compiled as the individual thinks fit for his/her purpose. Some will have mandatory elements and also invite additional material as the compiler thinks appropriate.
For these reasons portfolio is a very useful method at all educational levels. ipf consultants have experience using portfolios to document children’s developmental progress in kindergarten and primary school, by collating and commenting children’s drawings, texts and photographing their activities and recording their voices. Portfolios can be effectively used by primary age children to record in a variety of media things that they have learned. Secondary school students can find portfolios useful to document their learning process in all subjects, and especially in project work and artistic performances or productions. They can use them to record their work and social experiences.
At a later stage portfolios can be used to record and document competences and are even used in examinations.
Portfolios can of course also be used by adults to support their professional development, document research and support job applications.
ipf has experience working in all these fields and can coach others in developing their own portfolio systems to suit their requirements.
ipf has a large digital archive of portfolios of all kinds which can be used as examples to demonstrate the wide range of possibilities.