52 Unit 1 You: The Teacher of Tomorrow
• a list of the courses you have taken in high school
• a list of community activities, including any community service
• information about any jobs you have had
• academic recognition, such as letters, certifi cates, or honors
• information on leadership positions you have held or demonstrated
• documentation of special skills, such as foreign language or excep-
tional computer skills
Throughout this book, you will fi nd ideas for developing a portfolio.
Look for the Add to Your Portfolio section at the end of each chapter. In
addition, artifacts and refl ections from many of the other activities may be
good additions to your portfolio.
Using Your Portfolio
As you move through high school, your learning experiences multiply.
It is easy to lose track of what you did and the importance of individual
activities. A portfolio allows you to keep the important components of your
career goals in an organized format. Recording how you changed, or grew,
or what you learned from the experience each component represents shows
meaningful refl ection and documents the signifi cance of each milestone.
If you are creating a portfolio as a part of a teaching course or academy
program, your portfolio may be used as part of your fi nal grade. You might
use materials from your portfolio if you apply for a part-time job. Colleges
and universities often use portfolios to assess students’ levels of knowledge
and experience when they apply to teacher preparation programs. Starting
a portfolio in high school will assist you in building a solid professional
foundation that can move with you through your college career.
Electronic Portfolios
Preparing your portfolio in an electronic format is an alternative to an
actual physical one, 2-6. There are benefi ts to this option. With an electronic
portfolio, information can be easily stored on a computer hard drive or stor-
age device, transported, and accessed with minimal effort. With traditional
portfolios, items included in the portfolio can be lost. Materials also take up
a lot of space and must be stored in boxes, notebooks, binders, or fi les. By
scanning or taking digital photos of objects, you can preserve their images.
A portfolio in electronic form can be shared electronically. Electronic port-
folios also serve to demonstrate the creator’s computer skills. Just be sure the
technology used is compatible and accessible to the viewer. However, some
people prefer to be able to see and touch the actual items in a portfolio.