1. The Portfolio
Improving career opportunities
for you electronically!

2. Let’s define a Portfolio:
An accumulation of student work, collected over time,
that exhibits the skills and abilities he/she possesses.
1. Portfolios have been used by artists, models and architects for many years.
a. they can also be adapted by students to help them
exhibit skills and abilities they possess
2. There are many portfolio models on the”market” today.
a. the model I used was adapted from the C-TAP model
developed by WestEd (formerly Far West Laboratories)
b. WestEd developed this model for the high school and
I’ve modified it for the community college.

3. Why Use a Portfolio?
Potential employers are better able to evaluate your abilities.
They are cumulative and therefore include only your best work.
They require you to take an active, responsible role in your education.
They focus on what you can do.
1. Employers are interested in seeing examples of student’s abilities.
2. Theoretically a portfolio would begin as soon as a student chooses a career path (11th grade or sooner)
a. the entries in the portfolio are added to and modified
as the student progresses through high school
b. students choose the work samples they want in their
portfolio.
3. Portfolios help students develop self-confidence.

4. Components of a Portfolio:
Career Development Package
Work Samples
Writing Samples
Work Experience Evaluation and Skill List

5. Career Development Package:
Individual Career Plan *
Letter of Introduction *
Resume *
Job or College application *
Letter(s) of recommendation *
Activities, Honors, Achievements
1. Various components could be included in this portion of the portfolio:
a. depends on the student
b. teacher requirements
c. job interview requirements
2. Various resume styles are appropriate
3. Letters of recommendation:
a. self confidence building
b. always ask for more than one
-non relatives

6. Work Samples A very important part of the portfolio!!
work samples document skills and abilities that you currently possess!
each work sample should contain a descriptive summary and its importance to you *
Work samples can take many forms.…
1. Work samples are often the most difficult to describe
a. show students an example
b. allow for creativity
2. Work samples should document a skill or ability that a student has:
a. a skill list is NOT a work sample
3. The summary is very important for the employer since a picture or
diagram may not convey all the necessary information.

7. Typical work samples!!
Schematics, drawings, designs, and creativity developed by you
Pictures of you performing some related task like… changing oil or skiing or ...
A video of a sales presentation *
1. SPIE (Stanislaus Partners In Education) placed teachers at worksites throughout the county, as part of this project these teachers hadto develop a portfolio from their job site
a. computer expert put his portfolio on the internet
WOW!!
2. ASK FOR OTHER WORK SAMPLE EXAMPLES FROM THE AUDIENCE: PRIZES??

8. Writing Samples
The student exhibits effective writing skills on a technical subject:
Communication skills
Subject matter knowledge *
1. Industry continually asks for students with communication abilities:
a. Reading/writing
b. Problem solving skills
c. Team work
2. Writing sample requires students to show their ability to communicate.

9. Work Experience documentation:
School to Work Profile *
Skills list *
SCANS Competencies *
Employer evaluation *
Documentation of work experience
1. Work Experience:
a. documentation of effort in a career area
b. many times precludes hiring
c. allows students to determine whether they have an
interest in a particular area
2. Teaming with industry - Partnerships in Education - School to Work
a. very strong emphasis in today’s educational arena
3. Various types of work experience documentation at the Community college level.

10. The Portfolio Presentation:
What should the final portfolio look like?
depends upon the student
computer disk
binder or other type of folder
Internet????
All should require:
Table of Contents *
Professional appearance
1. Show portfolio examples

11. The Electronic Portfolio:
Benefits:
Easier to transport
Facilitates storage and grading
Students can easily update and modify portfolio entries
Hard copies can be downloaded and used upon demand
More economical for the school

12. Questions? Where are they stored? How are they stored?
Copyright considerations
Plagiarism
What next?
1. Increased accountability will be a fact of life for educators
a. portfolios document skills a student learns in your
program
2. More work?? Integrated into the system.
a. perhaps a requirement for AS/AA degree??

13. Remember
Trying something new isn’t always easy nor is it always successful.…
But your preparation in developing an electronic portfolio can potentially give you the advantage in a hiring situation!
1. Please take a few moments to observe the portfolio examples I brought in today.

14. Good luck with those portfolios!
Great
Portfolio !
I Got the Job! ?

15. James Madison High School
Thank You
James Madison High School
BaCA