Portfolio – a term often used and interpreted differently.
Originally the term is latin and compound of two parts: portare = carry and folio = paper. A portfolio are therefore papers which can be carried. Often that happens in so called binders. As soon as a portfolio is supported electronically and contains electronic medias it is called ePortfolio. The aim of such a portfolio is collecting electronic data and thanks to the reflexion, optimize the own learning process.
Portfoliotypes
A portfolio is not just portfolio. It is differentiated between divers type. Here there are shown three types exemplarily:
- Reflexion portfolio: The reflection portfolio is divided one more time in learn and assessment portfolio.
- Learn portfolio: The creater is in the same time also the owner of the portfolio and in general the portfolio is created self-motivated.
- Assessment portfolio: Assignments are provided externally and the assessment criteria are defined in advance, so the portfolio becomes other-directed. Normally the creater is not the owner of the portfolio.
- Development portfolio: The own development is documented with diverse artifacts.
- Presentation portfolio: Hereby the creater of the portfolio is presenting himself. This type can be used e.g. as a form of an application portfolio.
Every type has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore it is essential to clarify in the beginnen wherefore a portfolio is created and to whom it is addressed. That's the only way to make it possible choosing the right form and achieving the maximum benefit.
Advantages of a portfolio
A portfolio has several advantages:
- The users of a portfolio can collect, describe and analyze contents of any type. Especially the electronic dump simplifies this process.
- With a portfolio it is possible to reflect the own learning and thus optimize the learning process.
- As everything is saved in binders, the portfolio keeps accessible over a longer period. This enables comparisons and with the access rights for third parties even more feedback can be gained.
Disadvantages of a portfolios
Of course there are also disadvantages of a portfolio:
- If there are too strong specifications, the portfolio is filled out from the user like the "purchaser" wants it and not like the user would have designed it. Thus the self-reflexion gets lost.
- Often a portfolio provides unlimited space to collect whatever is found. It's the skill to collect the relevant and be courageous to leave unimportant.
- A reflexion on its own is for sure a a good thing but can be used in extremis in a portfolio. This danger of "over reflexion" needs to be prevented.
Sources (in german)
E-Portfolio
Eine Taxonomie für E-Portfolios
Studie der Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft
Wikipedia E-Portfolio
