Bibliography of Assessment Alternatives: Portfolios

Culham, Ruth E. Alternative Assessment: Portfolios from the Inside Out, 1996. Available
from: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 101 SW Main St., Suite 500,
Portland, OR 97204, (503) 275-9500, fax: (503) 275-0450, e-mail: culhamr@nwrel.org
You can't recommend that someone else (e.g., students) do a portfolio until you've tried one
yourself. This paper describes how to create a continuing teacher portfolio as a means both
to explore the portfolio process and to improve instruction by reflecting on past practice.
(AL# 130.4ALTASP)
Darling-Hammond, Linda, and Jacqueline Ancess. Graduation by Portfolio at Central Park
East Secondary School, December 1994. Available from: The National Center for
Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching (NCREST), Box 110, Teachers
College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, fax: (212) 678-4170.
The authors describe the philosophy behind their graduation portfolio, the skills and habits of
mind that undergrid all aspects of education at Central Park East Secondary School (and are
specifically demonstrated by the portfolios), the manner in which the school was restructured
to support its goals for students, specific requirements of the portfolio, and sample portfolio
entries.
The portfolio has 14 elements that involve demonstration of academic knowledge and skills
(science, mathematics, social studies, etc.), but also things like research skills, community
service, and ability to reason about social issues. Types of entries are specified, but students
have much leeway in pursuing activities in their own way. Different parts of the portfolio are
evaluated in various ways, including judgments of oral presentations, and written/visual
products. Scoring guides emphasize understanding, connections, use of evidence, voice, and
conventions.
The authors address important assessment balancing acts such as balancing “standards”
against “standardization,” balancing objectivity against subjectivity of judgments, and
balancing efficiency against ideal practice.
(AL# 000.3GRAPOC)
Daws, Donald. Schoolwide Portfolios. Located in: Student Portfolios, 1993, pp. 33-45.
Available from: National Education Association (NEA) Professional Library,
PO Box 509, West Haven, CT 06516, (800) 229-4200.
This paper describes a cross-disciplinary portfolio system developed at an alternative high
school. The paper: (1) includes a description of the steps the teachers went through to learn
about and develop their system; (2) provides sound advice for portfolio implementors, (3) has
complete statements of their definitions and rationale for portfolios, logistics, and the goals to
be documented in the portfolio; (4) explains the necessity to treat portfolios as any other
Assessment Resource Library, (503) 275-9582 21 Portfolio Bibliography
(formerly Test Center) NWREL, December 1996