What are student growth portfolios?

Student portfolios are collections of student activities, accomplishments, and achievements to demonstrate growth over time, offering an alternative authentic assessment for students and teachers.

What are the benefits and shortcomings of student growth portfolios?

Portfolios provide an opportunity for students to reflect and perform self-evaluations. As students learn, teachers should convey to students the purpose of the portfolio, what constitutes quality work, and how the portfolio will be graded.

Portfolios are a great alternative assessment for students who are not great test-takers so that they can demonstrate their mastery of the content. Students and teachers can also decide which work samples are included in a portfolio.

One of the shortcomings of portfolios is that students may miss out on the experience and practice of taking a regular assessment.