Students are taught to construct their own knowledge from a variety of sources and activities rather than relying on teacher lectures and textbooks. Teachers encourage student ownership of the learning process and provide students with choices in the learning path taken. Diversity and complexity in learning and thinking are fostered in hopes of developing autonomous, life-long learners. This belief that students are responsible for their learning, and that learning is not teacher-dependent is a radical departure from the traditional transmission model of teaching and learning where teachers and textbooks provide all knowledge. These new views of learning require new assessment practices.
Typical exams do little more than evaluate how well a student has memorized answers.
Although this may be important relative to specific information in certain classes, it does not allow teachers and students to fully determine what has been learned and accomplished during a course of study. New teaching strategies require alternative assessment practices that provide multidimensional perspectives. Student portfolios are one such alternative. There are several types of student portfolios that differ according to their purpose and their audience. The purpose of your portfolio for EXC 7570 is to demonstrate that you have met the specific objectives of this course.