52
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Unit 1 You—The Teacher of Tomorrow
Throughout this text, you will find ideas for developing a portfolio.
Look for the College and Career Portfolio section at the end of each
chapter. In addition, artifacts and reflections from many of the other
activities may be good items to include in 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 reflection and documents the significance
of each milestone.
If you are creating a portfolio as a part of a teaching course or academy
program, your portfolio may count as part of your final 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 helps you build 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 (Figure 2.8). There are benefits to this
option. With an electronic portfolio, or e-portfolio, you can easily
store information on a computer hard drive or storage device,
transport materials, and access them 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 files.
By scanning or taking digital photos
of objects, you can preserve their
images. A portfolio in electronic form
can be shared electronically. Electronic
portfolios also serve to demonstrate the
creator’s computer skills. Just be sure
the technology used is compatible and
accessible to the viewer. Remember,
some people prefer to be able to
see and touch the actual items in a
portfolio.
Figure 2.8 An electronic portfolio highlights your
education, skills, and teaching experience in a
manner that is convenient to send to potential
employers at a distance.