What is the Value and Purpose of Using a Portfolio or Journal as a Learning Tool?

The value and purpose of using portfolios and journals in education are multifaceted and can have a positive impact on both students and teachers.

A well-structured portfolio can be instrumental in supporting learning and assessment, as it serves as a comprehensive record of a student's work, self-reflection and teacher feedback.

Portfolios that are consistently updated to include examples of work that demonstrate meeting goals, self-reflections, feedback and assessments are the most successful. These portfolios can illustrate the student's growth and progress towards academic and ATL targets.

Some schools structure their portfolios by subject area, requiring students to select their most exemplary work from each subject to demonstrate their progress. Meanwhile, others arrange their portfolios by learning targets, in which students present work that showcases their mastery of each learning target, regardless of the subject it was performed in.

Regardless of how portfolios are structured, they can aid in the following valuable educational outcomes.

To Help Students Engage in the Process as well as the ProductFor Authentic AssessmentTo Record Development, Learning and GrowthFor Meaningful SharingStudent Ownership, Engagement, and Reflection