Portfolios as Learning Tools: Reflection, Growth, and Process in the Classroom

In Yancey & Wiser’s “Situating portfolios: Four perspectives” they talk about four points of view that blend reflection with an assignment in a good way. When I look at portfolios from these different points of view, I can see how they can be useful and thoughtful learning tools in the classroom. Portfolios are about the student experience because they make us think about our own work and how we have made it better over time. This helps us think about our own work in a more critical way. Meaning, we can look at our writing as a process instead of something that we just have to submit by 11:59 pm.

Portfolios are part of the syllabus and help teachers keep track of our growth and make sure their lectures/lessons are achieving the goals they set for us. We can use portfolios to show that they have been working hard throughout the semester and improving over time, which can help us get the credits to pass the course. 

These ideas support the idea that portfolios are very beneficial to us rather than stories that connect students academic, social, and personal lives. From all of these points of view, portfolios are great ways to learn throughout our whole life.