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Portfolios: Planning your Portfolio

Planning your Portfolio

What to include in a portfolio 
  • A portfolio should not be a random assortment of coursework or artefacts but should instead contain deliberately selected materials that showcase your learning and development.
  • What you include in your portfolio can depend on a range of factors such as the purpose your portfolio will serve, your field / discipline and whether there is a particular structure you must follow. 
  • Remember to check the assessment criteria for your portfolio to make sure you have included everything you need.

Examples of possible evidence may include: 

Different types of portfolio Possible evidence 
Course Portfolios Learning logs; photographs; sketchbooks; reflections.
CPD Portfolios Records of professional activities; reflections; training evaluations; self-evaluations; action plans 
Competency-based portfolio Mapping documents to show how you meet module criteria; personal statements; evidence of developmental achievement; reflections on development.
 
Collecting Evidence 
  • Because your portfolio should include a collection of artifacts and documents to demonstrate your development, skills and abilities, you may need a range of cross-referenced evidence to support your claims. 
  • Choosing the appropriate activities and work examples to include as evidence will depend on the purpose of your portfolio as well as your discipline or subject area. 
 
Cross-referencing 

 It is important to provide potential readers and assessors with clear links between the criteria and your evidence-without making it difficult or complicated. 

  • For electronic portfolios, you can easily cross-reference by hyperlinking appropriate evidence with the matching criteria or framework sections. 
  • For print portfolios, ensure that you have provided a clear referencing system that links your evidence.  This may be in the form of a numbering system linking the evidence to the framework, an index, or map.  

The process of putting a portfolio together may feel a bit daunting, so here are some tips to keep you on track:

  1. Make sure you have read and fully understood what is required for your portfolio.
  2. If you are unsure about any details, check specific requirements with your department/lecturer before you begin.
  3. Check if you need to produce a paper-format portfolio or an e-portfolio and the precise formatting requirements.
  4. Be clear about the type of evidence you need to include in your portfolio.
  5. Set yourself clear SMART objectives to ensure that you complete different parts of your portfolio in a timely way. Try to avoid leaving it all till the last minute!
  6. Make sure you organise the evidence logically and that you cross reference sections if required.
  7. Include an index to show how your portfolio is organised.
  8. Remember to number your pages.
  9. Use clear headings and subheadings.
  10. Use appendices if you have a lot of supporting evidence.

Further Reading