Introduction to Learning Portfolios

 Learning Portfolios

A learning portfolio (also known as an ePortfolio) is an assessment and reflection tool that is used to comprehensively illustrate your educational career.  Colleges and universities around the world are beginning to use portfolios for a variety of purposes.  The University of Utah is beginning to explore the possibilities provided by learning portfolios:

As a Tool for Assessment:

A learning portfolio is an online profile that allows an outside audience to measure the quality of your learning through evidence provided, as well as your intentions and ambitions. The audience for your portfolio may consist of professors, employers, or graduate schools. A learning portfolio allows you to show your full extent of your education beyond grades -- you can include what you learned through co-curricular experiences, such as internships, community engagement, and research.  You can also demonstrate the progress of your learning as you move throughout your college career.

Using Artifacts:

Learning portfolios gain their primary value as a tool for assessment through the use of artifacts. Artifacts, simply defined, can be anything that can provide evidence of learning. They can be essays, tests, assignments, projects, presentations, or other forms of media, such as video or audio. An artifact is loosely defined for a reason: so you can determine what is important for your education, and ultimately, what defines you. If you want to learn more about artifacts, and to discover new ideas to use in your learning portfolio, please visit the Using Artifacts page.

As a Reflection Piece:

A learning portfolio is an opportunity for you to reflect on your education. It can be used to make connections between courses, to record your journey, and to take stock of what you have learned. Reflection can be a valuable and fulfilling experience that can add to your personal identity. It allows you to gain a new perspective of your experiences here at the U. 

You will manage and curate your portfolio yourself -- you will want create a portfolio that represents you not only as an individual, but demonstrates the extent of your academic career. 

Directory

Getting Started
What To Include In Your Learning Portfolio
Using Artifacts
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