Student Portfolios Documenting Your Past and Present & Planning For Your Future

What is a Portfolio? What is a Portfolio? an organized, purposeful collection of student work an organized, purposeful collection of student work it displays knowledge, understanding, skills, accomplishments, interests, and achievement over a specified time. it displays knowledge, understanding, skills, accomplishments, interests, and achievement over a specified time. it provides an overview of a student's abilities, and helps to determine the strengths or weaknesses of the student. it provides an overview of a student's abilities, and helps to determine the strengths or weaknesses of the student.

How Can A Portfolio Be Used? to evaluate a students progress in a particular class or with a particular skill to evaluate a students progress in a particular class or with a particular skill to apply for jobs to apply for jobs to apply to particular post-secondary programs (like an Art institute) to apply to particular post-secondary programs (like an Art institute) as a keepsake of a students best work during high school as a keepsake of a students best work during high school to document social and academic growth to document social and academic growth to encourage students to evaluate and reflect on their learning to encourage students to evaluate and reflect on their learning

How Can A Portfolio Be Used? A Career Portfolio can be used in the job search and interview process as a creative alternative to the standard resume and cover letter approach. A Career Portfolio can be used in the job search and interview process as a creative alternative to the standard resume and cover letter approach. Rather than simply listing your skills, activities, interests, education and experience, a Career Portfolio permits job-seekers to better illustrate those aspects of themselves by including concrete examples such as: class papers, awards, writing samples, transcripts, photographs, certificates, etc. Rather than simply listing your skills, activities, interests, education and experience, a Career Portfolio permits job-seekers to better illustrate those aspects of themselves by including concrete examples such as: class papers, awards, writing samples, transcripts, photographs, certificates, etc.

How Can A Portfolio Be Used?  The Career Portfolio can also serve as a marketing tool, providing employers a preview of your performance as a potential employee  Markets your capabilities Documents the quality and quantity of your professional development Documents the quality and quantity of your professional development Demonstrates prior work or learning experiences Demonstrates prior work or learning experiences Sets you apart from other candidates for the job position Sets you apart from other candidates for the job position Illustrates proficiencies during or after an interview Illustrates proficiencies during or after an interview Establishes the habit of documenting your accomplishments and results Establishes the habit of documenting your accomplishments and results Creates a personal data base Creates a personal data base

How Can A Portfolio Be Used?  The Career Portfolio can also serve as a marketing tool, providing employers a preview of your performance as a potential employee Rather than simply listing your skills, activities, interests, education and experience, a Career Portfolio permits job-seekers to better illustrate those aspects of themselves by including concrete examples such as: class papers, awards, writing samples, transcripts, photographs, certificates, etc. Rather than simply listing your skills, activities, interests, education and experience, a Career Portfolio permits job-seekers to better illustrate those aspects of themselves by including concrete examples such as: class papers, awards, writing samples, transcripts, photographs, certificates, etc.

The Process – Starting Your Portfolio Portfolios are student centered rather than teacher-created. Students need to … keep their work on an on-going basis. keep their work on an on-going basis. students will select that which they feel represents their best efforts and the widest range of their abilities and skills. students will select that which they feel represents their best efforts and the widest range of their abilities and skills. reflect about why they have chosen their samples and in doing so develop a criteria for themselves with respect to what is "good" work. reflect about why they have chosen their samples and in doing so develop a criteria for themselves with respect to what is "good" work.

Key Areas of Focus in Your Portfolio Career Goals – what have you identified? Career Goals – what have you identified? Resume – is it up to date? Resume – is it up to date? Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills reviewing your skills Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills reviewing your skills Artifacts to be Included – certificates etc Artifacts to be Included – certificates etc Contact Information Contact Information

WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PRESENT YOUR PORTFOLIO? In an interview To illustrate skills you are asked to describe To illustrate skills you are asked to describe As concrete proof of your accomplishments as they relate to the opportunity at hand As concrete proof of your accomplishments as they relate to the opportunity at hand Generally do not send with your application package unless requested Generally do not send with your application package unless requested

WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PRESENT YOUR PORTFOLIO? In a job performance evaluation To remind the employer of your contributions and accomplishments To remind the employer of your contributions and accomplishments

Some Final Portfolio Tips to Remember A portfolio is not a resume. A portfolio may contain a resume. A portfolio may be large or small, a few pages to 20 or more. A portfolio is not a resume. A portfolio may contain a resume. A portfolio may be large or small, a few pages to 20 or more. A portfolio may contain colourful graphics. Most people use the portfolio in interviews. They do not send them out unannounced. A portfolio may contain colourful graphics. Most people use the portfolio in interviews. They do not send them out unannounced.

Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills Employability Skills Employability Skills Fundamental Skills Fundamental Skills The skills needed as a base for further development Personal Management Skills Personal Management Skills The personal skills, attitudes and behaviors that drive one’s potential for growth Teamwork Skills Teamwork Skills The skills and attributes needed to contribute productively