Developing Your Portfolio - Enhancing Your Learning and Showing Your Stuff: A Guide for the Early Childhood Student or Professional

by Jones; Marianne

• ISBN13: 9780415951173
• ISBN10: 0415951178
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Portfolios arena (TM)t just for documenting the work of young childrena "they can also be powerful resources for early childhood educatorsa (TM) professional training and development. From evaluating onea (TM)s classroom practice to showcasing skills and accomplishments, professional portfolios are a comprehensive record of a career in its entirety. In this book, Marianne Jones and Marilyn Shelton guide both practicing and pre-serve instructors through the process of showcasing their own teaching skills. The authors present numerous examples taken from successful portfolios, provide helpful tips and strategies, combine theory and practice for developing portfolios, and walk readers step-by-step through the creation process. This essential guide will accessibly and effectively guide early childhood educators through the recording of their emerging abilities.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
Human Development and Constructivism	1	(14)
Why Start a Book About Portfolios with Human Development and Constructivism?	1	(1)
Constructivism	2	(1)
Constructivism: What It Is	2	(1)
Where Constructivism Comes From	3	(3)
The Other Side of Human Development	6	(2)
Why Our Teaching Practices in Adult Learning Environments Often Do not Reflect Our Constructivist Beliefs	8	(3)
How Constructivism Applies to Adult Learners	11	(1)
Implications for the Adult Learning Environment	12	(1)
A Final Note	13	(2)
How Portfolios Reflect Constructivism	15	(10)
Constructivism and Portfolios	15	(2)
Our Journey to Portfolios: A Constructivist Story	17	(1)
What Are Portfolios?	18	(1)
Characteristics of Portfolios	19	(1)
Benefits of Portfolio Development	20	(3)
Challenging Aspects of Portfolio Development	23	(1)
A Final Note	24	(1)
Portfolio Orientation: Purpose, Type, Context, and Audience	25	(12)
Purpose, Type, Context, and Audience: What Is the Difference?	25	(1)
A Closer Look at Purpose	26	(2)
Relationships: Purpose, Type, Context, and Audience	28	(1)
Purpose as It Applies to All Types of Portfolios	28	(1)
Purpose 1: To Facilitate and Chart Development	29	(2)
Purpose 2: To Provide a Basis for Evaluation	31	(2)
Purpose 3: To Highlight Performance and Capabilities	33	(2)
A Final Note	35	(2)
Philosophy: The Unifying Element of Portfolios	37	(14)
Your Educational Philosophy	37	(1)
Philosophy: A Quick Refresher	37	(1)
Philosophy as a Construct	38	(1)
Philosophy in the Context of Education	38	(1)
Why Go to the Trouble to Consider Philosophy?	39	(1)
Philosophy Statement: The Unifying Element of Portfolios	39	(3)
Just What Is a Philosophy Statement?	42	(1)
What Does a Philosophy Statement Do and Why Is It Important?	42	(1)
The Philosophy--Theory Connection	42	(1)
Dispositions: Getting into the Right Frame of Mind	43	(2)
Philosophy Statement Essentials	45	(5)
A Final Note	50	(1)
Reflection: The Defining Feature of Portfolios	51	(14)
Why Reflection Is the Defining Feature of Portfolios	51	(1)
Prerequisites for Reflection	52	(1)
Reflection in Practice	52	(2)
Reflection and Learning Frames	54	(1)
Becoming Accomplished in Written Reflection	55	(4)
Anatomy of a Reflection	59	(1)
Tools for Written Reflection	60	(3)
A Final Note	63	(2)
Building a Portfolio	65	(38)
The What and How of Selecting and Using Evidence	65	(1)
What Is Evidence?	65	(1)
General Guidelines for Selecting and Using Evidence	66	(8)
Characteristics of Portfolio Types That Influence Your Choices of Evidence	74	(21)
Assessment: Formative and Summative Looks at Portfolios	95	(2)
Rubrics	97	(1)
Checklists	97	(3)
Peer and Instructor Feedback Critiques	100	(1)
A Final Note	101	(2)
Structure, Design, and Construction of Print and Electronic Portfolios	103	(24)
Print or Electronic Format?	103	(3)
Structuring Portfolios	106	(1)
Portfolio Features for Print or Electronic Portfolios	106	(9)
Release for Photographs	115	(2)
Design Tips	117	(1)
Special Design Tips for PowerPoint Users	118	(1)
Using PowerPoint to Create an Electronic Portfolio	118	(5)
Scanning Documents for Inclusion in the Portfolio	123	(1)
Gentle Reminders	124	(1)
A Final Note	125	(2)
References	127	(2)
Index	129