Expectations and suggestions

The students stated that "the professors are discovering this portfolio approach at the same time as we are". This seemed to contribute to some students' feelings of uncertainty, but a majority of students tended to think that improvement of assessment would not be possible without experimentation. They found it important for students to be consulted before the professors had completely established the final version of their system of assessment.

Several comments were about aspects of the portfolio assessment that could be improved:

• the students said their overview of the portfolio is not sufficiently clear; they do not have a well-defined representation of what the final product will look like;

• the objectives of the portfolio need to be explained and discussed: what competencies are to be developed and assessed?

• while clarifying the objectives that apply to all students, it would be useful to introduce more differentiation in the constitution of the portfolios; this means an acceptance that the portfolio has a "personal" dimension and that variations among students are normal;

• it would be important to develop the possibilities of "mini-conferences" with the professor during the preparation of the portfolio; this would increase its formative function;

• there could be better coordination among the professors concerning the aims and methods of portfolio assessment.

A final point needs to be mentioned: several students raised the question as to whether the assessment should be called portfolio assessment. They expressed the view that the term "portfolio" is applied to so many different types of assessment that its specificity is no longer clear.

مواضيع ذات صلة

Complexity of the framework

Increasing inequality

Pitfalls we tried to avoid Tensions occurred by different perceptions of assessment goals

Professional commitment and mobility

Cooperative management of a differentiated pedagogy

Development of independence in the framework of social interaction

Discussion and questions

Problems encountered with portfolio assessment

Advantages of portfolio assessment

Similarities and differences between portfolio assessment and prior assessment experiences

Reflective questions with regard to the course practical relevance

Trainer comments