WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?

A portfolio is a “flat case for carrying papers and drawings” (Merriam-Webster

Dictionary, 2015)” Indeed, Portfolios are used by painters, architects, and other artists to
showcase their samples of their best work. Portfolios in education, on the other hand,
contain samples or evidences of what students have learned in a particular subject area
at a given time.

“A portfolio is a purposeful, integrated collection of student work showing effort,

progress, or achievement in one or more area” (Belgrad, Burke, and Fogarty, 2008, 2). It is
also a “record of learning that focuses on students’ work and their reflections on the work”
(Benson and Barnett, 1999, 14). Indeed it is another way of assessing learning without the
use of standardized test and evaluation.

In general, there four (4) types of portfolios used in education (Johnson, Mims-Cox,
and Doyle-Nicholas, 2010, 38).

a) Showcase Portfolio – similar to the original meaning of “portfolio”, a showcase

is a collection of a students’ best work in a given discipline or subject area.
The student is the one who selects which work he/she considers best and why.

b) Growth Portfolio - a growth portfolio demonstrate how a student developed

particular skill or knowledge over time. It provides evidence of a student's
progress in a learning area. Unlike a showcase portfolio, you not only see a
student’s best work, but also see the student’s journey toward achieving
excellence in the given skill.

c) Project Portfolio – a project portfolio emphasizes how a student completed

discipline-based procedures or processes. The projects documented usually
represent tasks or skills that professionals in the field usually do in a real life.

d) Academic Portfolio or Standards Based Portfolio – an academic portfolio is a

collection of student work that represents achievement of the content and
performance standards for a given course.

For the Individual Learning Portfolio, we shall be combining the elements of the
showcase portfolio and the standard-based portfolio. This means that your portfolio must
contain your best work or most significant experience in each of the subjects you have
taken under the GAS Track.
The following are the portfolio guidelines:

MY PORTFOLIO
You may use any printed format for this portfolio as long as it contains all required components. It must also
comply with the criteria as reflected in the rubric provided.

PURPOSE OF THE PORTFOLIO

To showcase the student’s best work (within or outside class) that reflects achievement of learning goals in
each of the specialized subjects under the GAS Strand.

PARTS OF THE PORTFOLIO

(Hopkinton High School,1994,194)

1. Cover Page – the student may creatively design the cover as long as it includes the
following information: name of student, grade level, section, school year, name of school,
and name of teacher.
2. Portfolio Checklist and Self-Assessment – checklist of requirements and self-assessment
using the rubric provided.
3. Table of Contents
4. Preface – a narrative that provides a brief background of yourself and why you are making
a portfolio. It must also describe the reasons and process you used in selecting the artifacts
or words you have included in your portfolio. Finally, it should include your all overall
reflection and learning,
5. Presentation of Selected Work
Format:
a. Subject – identify the subject where each artifact belongs.
(refer to the subjects asked on the table)
b. Artifacts – the student’s best work may include actual student output within or
outside class; photo of a school presentation/performance, reflection paper;
awards; commendation; etc. You may include memorabilia related to the main
artifact you are presenting.
c. Description of the Artifacts – brief narrative describing what, when, where, how,
and whyof the chosen artifact.
d. Learning Goals Reflected – content or performance standard related to the
artifact.
e. Reflection on the Artifact – this may include your most significant learning or
realization about yourself or the subject.
6. Personal Vision and Goals for the Future – narrative that describes your dreams, goals, and
aspirations for yourself for the next 10 years.
Guide Questions:
➢ Where do you see yourself ten years from now? What would you be doing?
➢ What have you achieved personally and professionally?
➢ What would you do to make these dreams and aspirations happen?