Portfolios

1. Portfolios Portfolio Piloting Team Language Center Sultan Qaboos University 2010-2011

2. Presentation Outline Purpose of portfolios Elements of portfolios Introducing and managing PFs Assessment Responsibilities Student and teacher feedback Looking Ahead Q & A

3. The Purpose of Portfolios • To develop learner autonomy + ownership • To comply with OAAA ‘s academic standards.

4. Portfolio Elements Purposes Academic planner To raise awareness of time management

5. Portfolio Elements Purposes • “Can do” checklist • To identify strengths and weaknesses • To help the students set their goals

6. Portfolio Elements Purposes • Learning reflections To monitor and self assess progress towards goals • Weekly reflections • Midterm reflection • End- of- term reflection

7. Portfolio Elements Purposes • The vocabulary log • To broaden students vocabulary banks • To help students acquire new effective strategies.

8. Section 2: Portfolio Elements Academic Planner Can-do Checklists Learning Reflections Vocabulary Logs

9. Academic Planner • Designed to help students keep track of assignments and due dates • Becomes more complex as students advance through the FP Planner 1 – portrait Planner 2 - landscape Science Course Planner

10. Can-do Checklists • Correspond to the skill-specific learning outcomes determined by each Level and the FPEL curriculum Level 2 self assessment checklist Level 5 self-assessment checklist

11. Learning Reflections Weekly, Midterm, End of Semester reflections • Promote critical thinking • Enable students to monitor and report on their learning in general • Enable students to assess their progress toward specific goals from the Can-do Checklists • Evidence based Level 2 Reflection Log Level 6 Reflection Log Level 4 End of Term Reflection

12. Vocabulary Logs • Word count per week varies by Level Level 2 Vocabulary Log

13. Section 3: Introducing and Managing Portfolios Pacing schedule Introducing the portfolio and its elements Suggested teaching strategies

14. Pacing schedule The portfolio task The week in the semester for the task Class time required Handouts required General Pacing Schedule for Portfolios.docx

15. Suggestions for: Introducing the portfolio in general Introducing each portfolio element

16. Introducing portfolios in general Making the purpose clear Folder/binder suggestions Dates/weeks in which assessments will be conducted Explain how they will be assessed Self-assessment on the portfolio

17. Introducing the elements Suggestions for introducing the four elements with examples. Planner Self-reflection Can-do statements check lists Vocabulary log

20. Cont… Emphasis on certain aspects of the elements for assessment purposes is suggested We give suggestions for each element. For instance, the firstvocabulary log maybe introduced as a class activity, as a ‘practice log’. Scaffolding the activity ensures the students have understood the task.

21. The format of the portfolio Hard copy Ring binder/file with dividers Electronic Moodle Turnitin Other possibilities

22. Suggestions for: Teaching strategies for each element For example, a suggested planner activity is student presentations on time management Improving the effectiveness of the portfolio For example, asking students to mark themselves on activities or elements and justify their marking

23. Section 4: Assessment What kinds of assessment are required? When do I do the assessments? What do I do during a portfolio conference? How do I assess students’ portfolios?

24. Section 5: Responsibilities • Level Coordinators • Teachers • All teachers • Portfolio Advisors

25. Level Coordinators • Assign portfolio advisors to sections • Ensure all teachers know what to do • Place student/advisor conferences on pacing schedule • Post current documents on Moodle • Ensure that all teachers go over learning outcomes with students in the first class • Monitor continuous assessment on Moodle

26. All Teachers • Review learner outcomes with students on the first day of class • Have students complete can-do lists on course outline • Ensure students enter important deadlines on their academic planners throughout the semester • Inform portfolio advisor of important dates/deadlines before each assessment

27. Portfolio Advisors • Introduce elements of portfolio and guide students in their use • Assist students in selecting appropriate goals • Review level specific changes at the midterm • Monitor and assess students on an ongoing basis • Enter continuous assessment grades on Moodle

28. Student Feedback: Spring Block 1 • One open ended question on purpose of the portfolio • Four likert scale statements on how useful students found each element of the portfolio

29. Student Feedback: Usefulness of Portfolios

30. Student Feedback: Overall usefulness of the Portfolio

31. Teachers’ Feedback: Spring Block 1 • Five open ended questions on implementing the portfolio

32. Looking Ahead • Master portfolio manual • Level portfolio manuals • Portfolio workshops in early September • Ongoing adjustments (based on feedback) • E-portfolios

33. Do you have any questions? Thank you! . . . .. for joining us as we look forward to implementing portfolios in September which will be beneficial to our students as well as teacher friendly!