FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

How often should I be placing items in my portfolio?
You should try to update your portfolio at least every two weeks.  Opportunities where an artifact may be collected will be outlined in your instructor's syllabus.

When do I start putting together my professional portfolio?
When you begin the first course leading to the Teacher Education program, which is commonly EDF 120,  you will begin collecting artifacts for your working portfolio.  During your student teaching semester, you should be compiling your best artifacts from competency level three (basic).  These level three artifacts will be used in your professional portfolio.   Upon completion of your student teaching, you will present this professional portfolio to your advisors and a team of other instructors for assessment.  Remember, this version of your portfolio will contain your best work and will potentially be used as a marketing tool when you begin your search for employment, so be creative and make this portfolio a reflection of yourself.

Will my professional portfolio and working portfolio be kept in the same binder?
No.  Your professional portfolio is an opportunity for you to market yourself and your unique abilities.  You will compile all your best artifacts in a separate binder for your professional portfolio.

How often should my advisor review and assess my portfolio?
At least twice a semester.  Every time you add an artifact it is not necessary to meet with your advisor.  Schedule a time when you can meet to discuss several artifact entries.  

What if one of my artifacts receives an unsatisfactory score?
You will be given the opportunity to revise any unsatisfactory artifacts.  Comments from all persons scoring your portfolio should be reviewed carefully and used to make any needed changes to your portfolio. 

Why do we do portfolios?
The portfolio is a means of assessing knowledge, skills and dispositions that you have learned throughout your degree program.  National and state standards for teacher preparation require that our nation's teachers be able to "do" certain things in order to be successful in the classroom.  It is not just what you know that is important.  Rather, it is how you can use what you know in order to help children learn.  The portfolio is a means of assessing your skills as a teacher. 

A PowerPoint presentation has been prepared to answer any questions you may have regarding the portfolio process.  (This is a Microsoft PowerPoint document, if you do not have MS PowerPoint on your computer, you can download a reader from the Microsoft Site.)