Reflection # 3

While reading the article on the Electronic Portfolio as a form of assessment, I thought back to a class that required an e-portfolio, and I remember thinking to myself, oh wow... I have to do that? At the time I had never done anything like that. I had heard of portfolios from friends that applied for jobs or had to develop a portfolio for a job they were seeking, but never had to do it for myself. However, my professor said something that allowed me to calm down and not get overly anxious. She said, the portfolio was something that would help us track our progress in how we were doing, and allow us to see where we may need improvement. After hearing that, I some how calmed down. It didn't feel like an actual assessment, it was something that I would put together in my own way, with my own thoughts and ideas. And after reading the article, there were several points made that brought this memory of this class back. Within the ten principles of Assessment for Learning (AFL), one of the principles fit right in the category of the class I had. It stated, AFL develops learners’ capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self-managing. A principle I agree with. Because after taking that class I was able to look back and take notes of what I should or shouldn't have done, along with feeling good about a finished product I put together on my own. The ten principles target many points like focusing on what the student learns and being sensitive and constructive because any assessment has an emotional part. These principles are very important because they help shape the students ability to perform and create an assessment style e-portfolio that they are able to reflect back on and also critique along with their instructor.