What is a Personal Portfolio?
A Personal Portfolio is an organized collection of evidence that shows your accomplishments both in and out of school. A portfolio contains samples of your work that exhibit and reveal the quality and variety of your learning, your accomplishments, your skills, and your experiences.
What Are the Steps to Developing a Portfolio?
A. Gather Your Evidence: Collect the information and records that show your interests, involvements, and achievements.
B. Organize Your Portfolio: Arrange your evidence into sections that will help someone else see what you have accomplished.
C. Assemble Your Portfolio: Format and compile your portfolio so it is easy for someone else to read and understand the information you have gathered.
D. A Final Check: You have much to be proud of in your portfolio. Check that it has updated information and that it shows your work in the best possible light.
Items for your portfolio:
1. Cover Page
2. Table of Contents
3. Educational Accomplishments: In this section, concentrate on what you have accomplished in your studies at school.
(Report Cards, Transcripts, Academic Awards, Project/Paper of high quality, Language Skills, other information unique to you or your education)
4. School Activities: This section should contain evidence of your involvement in school activities. School activities might include clubs, sports teams, bands, and other activities specific to your school.
(Newspaper Articles, Extra Curricular activities, letter from a coach or teacher, program from a school play you were in)
5. Work/Volunteer Experience: This section focuses on your work experiences. Be sure to include both paying and nonpaying work experiences.
(Resume, List of references, reference letters, Work ed information, Sample cover letter you have written)
6. Community Participation: The last section should focus on your participation in community activities. Many scholarships and awards require evidence of your community involvement.
(Swimming lessons, music lessons, CPR/First Aid, Drivers Education, skills competitions, dance lessons, cultural clubs/organizations, religious groups, fundraising events, other activites specific to your community)
When assembling your portfolio ask yourself the following questions:
Does my porfolio show a wide range of my accomplishments?
Are my most important accomplishments clearly evident?
Does my portfolio have a consistent format?
Do I have a cover page for my portfolio that includes my name, title and a photo?
Do I have a table of contents?
Your portfolio will be evaluated according to the following components:
• completeness
• presentation of ideas and visual appeal
• diversity and quality of selections/evidence
• evidence of understanding the process of developing a portfolio
• appropriateness for the intended purpose of the portfolio
• clarity of the message for the intended audience
Due Date: Monday, May 9, 2011
You will have five class hours to complete this project. If you feel like you need more time and have been using class time appropriately to work you may ask for an extension. Late projects will be deducted 5% per day late.
