1. Xiangyun Du xiangyun@plan.aau.dk
Learning portfolio
Xiangyun Du

2. What is a learning portfolio?
A collection of a learner’s experiences and achievements during a period of educational activity (Elango, Jutti and Lee 2005)
Written reflection – reflective essay

3. Why? Demonstration of accomplishments
Assessment – the quality of the student’s past or ongoing performance through process
Improvement of education

4. Why? – benefit
Empower the learner - individual learning needs – self directed learning
Professional development – keeping records of learning activities
Job hunting and career pursuit

5. How to write?
Time line: Please send to me by
latest Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
Length: around 5 pages (minimum 3 – maximum 10)
Features
Spontaneous
Flexible
Changing

6. How to write? - forms Written narratives
Experiences (what are they) + Reflections (meanings of the experiences)
Appendix of materials – anything had special meanings or that can prove your learning
(University of Oklahoma 2001)

7. How to write? - contents
What were my goals/expectations for the project work?
How did they change during the semester?
What did I gain from the course?
What did I learn about myself as a problem-solver?
What did I learn about project management?
What did I learn about professional communication?
What did I learn about myself as from working in a team?
What did I learn from the intercultural environment?
What was missing?
What was redundant?

8. How to write? - contents
What new interests or values have I acquired so far?
What learning activities were most/least valuable for me?
What and how can I use these for life and future work?

9. Xiangyun Du xiangyun@plan.aau.dk www.ucpbl.aau.dk/xiangyund
Professional communication Writing report in a team and oral presentation
Xiangyun Du

10. Agenda Report writing Peer review Discussion of sample report
Learning porfolio
Presentaion – preparation for P0 status seminar

11. Report writing Before writing (the group):
Preparation: receiver, message, outline
Brainstorm: e.g.. Post-it
Writing (individually):
Go for it : write without criticism – one headline at a time (in arbitrary order)
Structure – structure the writing, creating overview and consistency
Edit – make the writing easy to read
After writing (the group or others)
Review

12. Report writing Two essential ingredients of academic writing
Organization
Title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, acknowledgement, references, (appendix)
appropriate language within the organization

13. Report writing
Title – the fewest possible words that adequately describe the content of the paper
Abstract
state the principle objectives and scope of the investigation
describe the methodology employed
Summarize the results
State the principal conclusions

14. Report writing Introduction
Present the nature and scope of the problem investigated
Review of the pertinent literature
Methods of investigation
Principle results of the investigation
Definition of any specialized terms or abbreviations
A ‘why and what for (4)’ method
Why is the topic of interest?
What (1) is the background on the previous solutions, if any?
What (2) is the background on potential solutions?
What (3) was attempted in the present effort (research project)?
What (4) will be presented in this paper?

15. Report writing Materials and methods Results
Exact technical specifications and quantities,
source or methods of preparation
Details of methods
Do not put any results
Results
‘big picture’ - describe the methodology employed
Data – representative instead of repetitive data
Meaningful statistics

16. Report writing Discussions
Present the principles, relationships, and generalizations shown by the results
Point out any exceptions or any lack of correlation, and define unsettled points
Show how your results and interpretations agree (or contrast) with previously published work
Discuss the theoretical implications of your work as well as any possible practical applications
State your conclusions clearly
Summarize your evidence for each conclusion

17. Report writing References and quotations
Appendix

18. Appropriate Language Simple Precise Concrete Neutral Sensible Logical
Understandable

19. Peer review Why ? To evaluate the work
To find mistakes and to identify if something is missing
To check whether it is understandable

20. Peer review How and When ? Written or oral At a group meeting
After everybody have read the writing and have prepared individual comments to it

21. Peer review Valuable criticism
Be kind – be motivating for the group member, avoiding offending
Be concrete – providing alternatives and suggestions
Be constructive – aiming at improvement
Be critical – professionally but not personally

22. Peer review
Elements
Misspelling, misprint and other corrections in the proofs. (might be noted directly in the document)
Logical errors, misunderstandings, poor formulations, technical mistakes etc. that makes the understanding difficult or impossible for the reader.
Good points, well structured, clear overview, interesting angle, well documented, clear illustrations etc.

23. Asignment 1 from last week
Please prepare for a powerpoint presentation which cover:
A brief introduction to your P0 project
Project management (goal, time plan, resources, methods, expectation, etc)
Team management (how you work together, e.g. Code of conduct, collaboration agreement, etc)
Make a team based, max 8 minutes long presention next time (Oct 3rd)

24. Asignment 2 from last time
Please look through a 7th semester project report and discuss in your group, and prepare for a short presentation:
Please list 3 good points (what you can learn from it)
Please critize constructively on 3 points (what could be done to make it better)