Discusses the necessity that teachers become central to the teacher evaluation process as outlined in the NCTM Professional Teaching Standards by using portfolio documentation organized into three components: plan and design, enactment of teaching, and outcomes of planning and teaching. (MKR)

In addition to helping students assess their own strengths and weaknesses and providing an authentic means of evaluation, portfolios are a way to teach students to present themselves to a potential employer. (JOW)

Education's "new paradigm" emphasizes the meaning behind learning. It necessitates authentic assessment--examining students' basic skills, control of information, higher level understanding, personal characteristics, and habits of mind. (SK)

The first step in portfolio construction is building a folio--accumulation of all possible materials documenting a person's learning. Materials may include artifacts created by the learner and attestations from other people and organizations. (SK)

A portfolio is a carefully edited collection of artifacts and attestations selected from a folio. It serves as a documented history of learning and a structured record of accomplishment. It may be used for self-evaluation, for progress assessment in adult education, or as a vehicle for engaging learners in active reflection on experience. (SK)

Describes how one middle school uses teacher portfolios for gathering information about teacher practice and evaluating progress made toward stated goals. Teachers develop portfolios in five sections and submit them to their principal mid-year. At this time, they reflect on their work and complete conferences with peers and supervisors. A sidebar…

Addresses one specific method of authentic assessment, portfolio assessment, by applying this method in two case studies assessing learning of instructional technology. Explains the differences between process portfolios and product portfolios, explains scoring rubrics, and provides suggestions for practitioners. (Author/LRW)

Claims that increasing numbers of reading educators are looking to recent advances in holistic writing assessment to explore new potentials for assessing reading comprehension. Reports on a research project exploring use of freewriting to assess reading comprehension; describes use of written retellings as a tool to support reading; and presents a…

Presents a portfolio assignment giving students an opportunity for creativity in designing their portfolios to demonstrate their progress in the course. Presents examples from student portfolios and outlines portfolio goals. Concludes with student reactions to the class portfolio, information on the grading procedure, and candidate courses for…

Provides guidelines for a Web site manager to coordinate with a distance learning instructor for refining collaborative learning strategies. Topics include classroom management strategies for Web-based instruction; reducing the instructor's work through the use of collaborative learning strategies; managing learners' portfolios; and controlling…

Provides an overview of the Portfolio Placement Project (PPP) at the University of Arizona; explores the concept of validity as it relates to the PPP; explores the concept of reliability within the PPP; and argues that the PPP has had enormous positive impact on the curriculum of the University of Arizona and the schools whose students submit…

At a Rhode Island elementary school, portfolio sharing night provides a way for students to share their classwork with parents in a relaxed, informative setting. Parents see works in progress and completed samples and hear the children explain their work. This format has helped improve public relations and communication with parents and encouraged…

Argues that standardized testing and portfolio assessment are not oppositional methods for determining student growth and teacher effectiveness but are complementary means of gathering and interpreting information that can lead to more holistic evaluations of student achievement in school. Suggests that much remains to be done in teacher education…

Investigates how secondary teachers' perceptions of portfolio implementation barriers changed when teachers participated in a 1-year portfolio implementation effort. Suggests that teachers' apprehension about portfolio barriers increased slightly, but that this increase can be attributable to teachers with little portfolio experience. (SC)

Discusses Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences that addresses how students assimilate information and suggests the use of electronic portfolios to allow a broader array of learning styles and increase the effectiveness of activities by addressing more Multiple Intelligences. Explains the use of hypertext and multimedia on a CD-ROM.…