1 BUILDING A PORTFOLIO

2 WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO? Port – to move Folio – papers or artifacts  A Personal and Career Portfolio is an organized collection of evidence that shows your accomplishments both in and out of school.  A portfolio contains samples of your work that exhibit and reveal the quality and variety of your learning, your accomplishments, your skills, and your experiences.

3 WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO? 1. Gather Your Evidence Collect the information and records that show your interests, involvements, and achievements. 2. Organize Your Portfolio Arrange your evidence into three sections that will help someone else see what you have accomplished. The format will follow the Conference Board of Canada’s Employability Skills Profile. 3. Assemble Your Portfolio Format and compile your portfolio so it is easy for someone else to read and understand the information you have gathered.

4 STEP 1: GATHER YOUR EVIDENCE What evidence can be placed in a Portfolio? Evidence comes in many forms. You can include evidence of your skills, your talents, your achievements, your awards, your experiences, as well as your learning and employability skills. Be sure to include things you do both in school and away from school.

5 STEP 2: ORGANIZE YOUR PORTFOLIO  Use the following three categories to help you organize your evidence: 1.Fundamental (Academic) Skills 2.Personal-Management Skills 3.Teamwork Skills  Create dividers clearly labeled with each of these categories for your career portfolio binder.

6 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS  Organize these skills under the following 4 headings: Communication Skills Communication Skills Information Management Information Management Numerical Skills Numerical Skills Thinking and Problem-solving Skills Thinking and Problem-solving Skills

7  Use the Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills handout for clarification of each of the areas Employability Skills Employability Skills  Use the handout provided by your teacher to help you keep track of the documents you might include as evidence of these skills.

8 Here are some examples for the Fundamental Skills section of your portfolio...

9 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS: COMMUNICATE  Charts created in a spreadsheet  PowerPoint presentation  Video of a speech  Public speaking certificate  Debating certificate  Model parliament certificate  Subject tests/assignments  Transcript/report card  Samples of photography/artwork  Samples of letters  printouts  Collages/displays  Poetry/creative writing  Verbal/written evidence of another language  Keyboarding certificate  Other???

10 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS: Manage Information  Research report  Web quests  Essays  Subject tests/assignments  Transcript/report card  PowerPoint presentation  Information and evaluation of post-secondary opportunities  Other???

11 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS: Use Numbers  Subject lab report  Subject tests/assignments  Spreadsheets  Transcript/report card  Financial reports  Budget  Cash flow projections  Bank reconciliation  Other???

12 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS: Think & Solve Problems  Debating certificate  Lab reports  Venture report  Subject tests/assignments  Transcript/report card  Letter of recommendation  First Aid/CPR certificate  Completed case studies  Other???

13 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS  Organize these documents to reflect each of the following areas: Demonstration of positive attitudes and behaviours Demonstration of positive attitudes and behaviours Responsibility Responsibility Adaptability Adaptability Continuous learning Continuous learning Work safety Work safety

14 Here are some examples for the Personal Management Skills section of your portfolio...

15 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Demonstrate Positive Attitudes & Behaviours  Performance evaluations from work  Letter/certificate for volunteerism  Personal fitness schedule  Letter from employer/ coach/teacher  Attitude checklist  Thank you letter  Values inventory  Attendance report/punctuality  Academic achievement award (honours certificate)  Other???

16 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Be responsible  Attendance report  Personal schedule  Personal budget  letter/certificate for volunteerism  Performance evaluations from work  Sample of cover letter  Income tax return  Other???

17 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Be Adaptable  Group report  Letter from employer/coach/teacher  Participation in multi-cultural activity  Evidence of improved assignment/project  Evidence of a creative activity  Other???

18 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Learn Continuously  Interest/skills inventories  Personal career plan  Resume  Transcript/report card  Driver’s license  Evidence of travel (photos, itineraries, passport)  Evidence of other learned skills (sewing, cooking, art, music, gymnastics, mechanics, photography, etc.  Other???

19 PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Work Safely  WHIMIS certificate  First Aid/CPR certificate  Life guarding certificate  Safety-related certificate  Lab safety certification  Other???

20 TEAMWORK SKILLS Organize these documents to reflect: Work with others Work with others Participation in projects and tasks Participation in projects and tasks

21 Here are some examples for the Teamwork Skills section of your portfolio...

22 TEAMWORK SKILLS: Work with Others  Letter from employer/coach/teacher  Group reports  Awards/certificates for athletic teams  Leadership certificate  Document of participation in a team sport, drama or musical, band, choir, yearbook, student government, other clubs, peer tutoring/coaching  Performance evaluation from work  Membership in community organization  Other???

23 TEAMWORK SKILLS: Participate in Projects & Tasks  Newspaper clippings/photos  Student government committee participation  Workshop certificates  Performance evaluation (music, drama, keyboarding, public speaking, etc.)  evaluation of group project  Other???

24 EMPLOYABILITY CHECKLIST  Use the 3 checklists provided to identify documents that may be included in your portfolio  Reflect on areas that need to be strengthened or that are missing  Develop a goal-setting action plan to acquire the skills needed to strengthen your career portfolio over the coming year

25 PUT IT ALL TOGETHER EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS TEAMWORK SKILLS

26 TRACKING YOUR ASSIGNMENTS  Your teacher will provide you with an assignment tracking sheet which you should put in a folder and keep in your portfolio along with completed in-class assignments.