Purpose. This assignment asks you to read and think about the portfolio concept. I would like you to think about this course as having a balance between thinking and doing, between learning about the portfolio concept--its history and change over time, various kinds and uses of portfolios, etc.--and learning to make electronic portfolios (specifically web pages). 

You have looked at portfolios created by past students and seen the wide variety of styles and contents. During this course I will encourage you to develop a portfolio that serves your needs and is designed with the possibility that you will continue to expand and revise your portfolio into the future.

There are many kinds of portfolios: teaching portfolios, classroom portfolios, professional portfolios, and so on... with many different shades of meaning and purposes. Many of the examples I use in this course focus on K-12 teachers and students, but the portfolio concept is increasingly being used in community colleges and higher education.

Specific Assignment:

1. Read the following article to learn about the various types of electronic portfolios:

http://electronicportfolios.com/portfolios/encyclopediaentry.htm
Electronic Portfolios -  A chapter in Educational Technology; An Encyclopedia

2. Helen Barratt's ePortfolio Resources. Helen Barratt is one of the national leaders in advocating for portfolios in education. She provides quite a few readings and resources from her personal website:

http://www.electronicportfolios.com/

Go to her website and explore it for a few minutes. Her use of the website may interest you both for the content and for the readings. Consider for a moment how Helen has used the web to organize her professional work and share it with others.