Reflective Blog #3

After reading the article, I definitely relate to the tenant of Assessment for Learning. While I think it is important to check for understanding on the student's past and current works, it is important to keep looking forward as well. The students need to focus on building their learning, as a fluid movement, rather than a cold stop and start method. I also believe it is crucial for the student to be involved in their own learning plan, not to just be handed assignments from the teacher. The teacher needs to be in conversation with the student on their individual learning plan and also welcome any input by the student. These assessments need to focus on improvement and compared to their own previous works, not how they compare to other students in their class. Since I am a constructivists, the assessment for learning really fits in with my ideas on how a classroom should be run and how students should be taught. Classrooms need to be a student-centered environment, not a teacher-centered environment. I believe more learning and growth within the student is better accomplished this way.

I think there is great potential for portfolio assessments. It's upsetting that students see these portfolios as something they have to do, rather than want to do. When I was at the University of Oklahoma, we had to make a portfolio of all of the projects and assignments we completed. The finished project was amazing and I was able to showcase my work to other professors, students and even employers. Students need to see portfolios as a way of showcasing their own works, not just another assignment. What you take and learn from the portfolio is priceless and can be helpful with future projects and assignments. I do think that portfolio assessments, from the teacher standpoint, should be formative because the student needs to focus on how they can improve their future works and not focus on what they did wrong in previous works. Portfolios can also showcase different talents. Projects can be created in different software programs, blogs can be written, students can even make a movie on their own computer and put it in the portfolio. All of these different things can be compiled into one portfolio, which I believe showcases the student's talent than just having the class write papers all of the time.

The creation and development of my portfolio will only enhance my learning. I have and will discover new avenues of technology, for example: wikis. Once my portfolio is started, I will be able to look back to see what I knew at first, compare it to what I know now, and figure out what other areas I need to grow in. I do not see any negative aspect of creating and using a portfolio.