Portfolios: Assessment Strategies
How does portfolio assessment work?
Advisory (Collection)
Twice a month, advisors guide students in collecting artifacts that meet the criteria outlined for each grade (see "skills checklists" below).
Skills Checklist (Selection)
A checklist of essential skills for 9th grade, 10th grade, and one for 11th/12th grade articulate what is required to complete the portfolio at each level. Many artifacts will satisfy more than one requirement.
Reflection Form (Reflection)
Each artifact submission must be accompanied by an "Artifact Reflection
Form" completed by the student. This form guides the student in identifying
why they chose the artifact, the essential skills it demonstrates, and how they
can improve these skills, while also providing confirmation of the submission
endorsement by a teacher. Advisors make sure that the student has sufficiently
completed the reflection form before approving the submission.
Exhibition (Connection)
At the end of the year, all seniors present their portfolios at an all-school
academic exhibition to which students, staff, parents, and the greater community
are invited. Juries consisting of students, past graduates, parents, community
members, and faculty evaluate senior presentations to ensure that criteria are
met. Members of the juries ask questions, engage in dialogue, provide feedback,
and deliberate on the merits of the exhibition.
Skills checklists and reflection forms
When students select artifacts for their portfolio, they will number it and
fill out the "Artifact Reflection Form". After they complete the
form, they will record that number next to appropriate discipline and skills
on the skills checklist. One artifact can potentially satisfy a number of skills.
For example, a 10th grade student has decided to select a painting produced
in art class to put in her 10th grade portfolio. After talking with her art
teacher and advisor, all agree that the painting satisfies the "Fine arts
or other elective" artifact listed under the Knowledgable Person
section, the "Invention" skill listed under the Complex Thinker
section, and the "Expresses clear ideas visually" skill under the
Effective Communicator section, all on the 10th grade Skills Checklist.
She completes her reflection form, obtains an endorsement from her art teacher,
and numbers it #1. She then goes to the 10th grade Skills Checklist and writes
#1 next to "Fine arts or other elective" "Invention," and
"Expresses clear ideas visually." When her 10th grade portfolio is
complete, every discipline should be represented and every skill, unless otherwise
noted, should be numbered.
The checklists were developed by Clear Creek Amana High School, Tiffin, Iowa, based on examples from around the country:
9th Grade Skills Checklist
10th Grade Skills Checklist
11th/12th Grade Skills Checklist
Student Artifact Reflection Form
