As an artist, former art teacher, and ed. psych. instructor, I have
utilized portfolio assessment (as my primary method for evaluation) for
self AND student evaluation. Portfolio assessment,(from my own experience
and understanding) is asking the "owner" of the portfolio to reflect upon
their initial goals for the activity, the activity itself, and the final
product(s) of that activity. In the arts, there are perimeters/constraints
for artistic activity. It's my understanding that perimeters and
constraints during activity may be(are?) determined by the teacher (by
inviting students to participate in an activity), the student,
co-constructed or negotiated by teacher and student, by the media
or tool used for the activity, and the social resources available for
that activity within the context. But in the arts (and perhaps other areas
as well) the goals of activity are, for the most part, individually
constructed....a student has an idea, a plan, a thought regarding the
product of their artistic activity. I see portfolio assessment as an
opportunity for students to reflect upon the goal-activity-product process
and how well I, as a teacher, supported/hindered that process (by
hindering goals or not providing the social resources needed during the
activity, etc.).
I usually ask students to include pieces/activities that they felt helped
them learn most and pieces/activities did not help them learn at all
or were least helpful. I believe that this activity, in itself, is a
valuable one for students self-reflection and self-evaluation AND
help me identify my own strengths/weaknesses as a co-constructor
of those activities. While I agree with points that Bill, Nate, and Eugene
made regarding portfolio assessment, I feel that the act of creating a
portfolio does not grow out of practice, nor does it follow practice but
it is a practice of self-reflection and self-evaluation.
-Julia
Julia M. Matuga
Dept. of Counseling and Educational Psychology
School of Education, 4021B
Indiana University, Bloomington
"The theoretician's prayer: 'Dear Lord, forgive me the sin
of arrogance, and Lord, by arrogance I mean the following...."
--Leon Lederman