Week 4- ePortfolios and Assessments

 In reflecting over the article, I mostly related to the principle “Learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve.” In my opinion, providing guidance is a very important part of the learning process because it promotes intrinsic motivation for you own learning process. So many times students receive a grade for completing an assessment but that grade means absolutely nothing to them in reference to what they need to improve upon. Because they are not receiving guidance to improve their learning, students are not connected or invested in their own learning. This is a vicious little cycle that really destroys the joy of taking control of your own learning and growth.

Portfolio assessment can be a powerful tool that increases student motivation, promotes responsibility for your own leaning, and provides evidence of student growth. If I were still in the classroom, I would definitely make creating an e portfolio apart of my students learning goals. Portfolios have so much potential for the learner. By having the responsibility to take your portfolio in a direction that mirrors your learning is very powerful. It allow for creativity and self- direction while allowing educators to provide guidance and mentoring to increase your learning.

The development of my portfolio will have a lot meaning for me. I believe it will allow me to reach new heights in discovering how powerful education truly is. It will give life to the numerous artifacts I have created over this long learning journey. What makes me really excited about the starting an ePortfolio is seeing my evolution from a beginning doctoral student to a graduate and all the things I accomplished and learned.