Describes the development of an outcomes document that specifies measurable objectives for knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be developed by management students. Discusses the use of student portfolios to assess attainment of these objectives. (SK)

Presents advice for preparing a portfolio to document science teaching performance. Includes lesson plans for a teacher education portfolio assignment and a description of useful portfolio components. (WRM)

Presents a discussion between two educators of the history, assumptions, tensions, and possibilities surrounding the use of portfolios in multiple classroom contexts. Includes illustrative commentaries that offer alternative perspectives from a range of other educators with differing backgrounds and interests in portfolios. (RS)

The two articles in this special section, combined with two previous articles, discuss the use of portfolios in large-scale assessment. Ten years ago, there was great interest in portfolio assessment in state testing programs, but no large-scale program relies on portfolios at the present time. These articles continue to consider their uses. (SLD)

Argues that the English/Language Arts Standards document is a powerful tool for guiding discussion about the connection between evaluation and learning that is applicable across a wide spectrum, including policymaking, curriculum development, and classroom practice. Argues that critically examining issues like portfolio use in conjunction with the…

Among six guidelines for portfolio assessment are (1) identify the goals of the portfolio; (2) determine type of portfolio to be used; and (3) establish procedures for organizing the portfolio. Insets explain performance-based assessment and use of portfolio assessment to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of…

Offers guidelines and examples for the use of portfolios with early childhood and elementary age children with disabilities. Topics addressed include what a portfolio is and looks like, how a portfolio is organized, what is included in a portfolio, the selection process for deciding the portfolio contents, and portfolio evaluation and reporting.…

This article presents a rationale and explanation of a personal profile assessment summary, a means of gathering, synthesizing, and conveying critical information about students with moderate and severe disabilities. A summary of information from a preliminary study on the use of personal profile summaries is included. (Contains references.)…

Considers whether National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification is as much an evaluation of teachers writing about their teaching as it is of the teaching itself, exploring two NBPTS certificate candidates' experiences, analyzing problems inherent in NBPTS standards and writing difficulties in NBPTS portfolio entries,…

Examines the mechanics of a large-scale writing portfolio assessment at the University of Michigan, including its impact on matriculation and placement; students' reactions to the requirement; and instructors' evaluation of the efficacy of placements under the new system. Examines the scoring process used by readers to assess portfolios, and…

Describes an outcomes assessment plan developed by the Lake Land College (Illinois) nursing program, which is organized around formative and summative evaluations of twelve graduate program outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative data collected by students are submitted in a portfolio format. The faculty tool for assessing the portfolios is…

Addresses concerns when a college-level course utilizes a number of instructors and sections. Notes the importance of the various sections receiving essentially the same educational experience. Describes section variation trends. Discusses use of the computer assisted speech evaluation software at Texas Christian University. Recommends the use of…

Interviews four principals in a Midwestern state to identify key concepts and information that P-12 school administrators desire in a job search teaching portfolio. Identifies elements, protocol, and possible standards of use. Notes a computer program was created to incorporate the identified elements and protocol for preservice teachers. Finds…

Examines whether first-year composition students at two state universities believe that portfolios are as effective for students as composition instructors widely assume them to be. Investigates the assumption in composition pedagogy that portfolios are good for students' writing and that students like and appreciate the opportunity to be in a…

Discusses using two alternative assessment methods, journals and portfolios, with preservice teachers in an elementary mathematics methods course. (Contains 13 references.) (ASK)