Revised 11/2007

SDV 298 - Portfolio Development Class (1-5 CR.)

Course Description

The Portfolio Development Course is designed to help students to: a. Identify their learning experiences. b. Match their learning to college courses. c. Articulate and document their learning in a portfolio, requesting credit for specific courses.

General Course Purpose

While the major outcome of the Portfolio Development Course is the preparation of the portfolio, the course is a valuable educational experience in itself. The course is an exercise in self-evaluation, introspection, analysis and synthesis. The course can help students enhance their self-esteem, their self-concept as learners, and their ability to clarify and reach life/work goals. The portfolio can be an excellent record of the student’s effectiveness in life/work situations. It can be suitable for presentation to prospective employers and others interested in a student’s skills. 

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

ENG 111

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this Portfolio Development course, the student should be able to:

  • Clarified the conditions for enrollment in the course, the steps in the portfolio development/evaluation process, and the role of the faculty resource person.
  • Clarified the importance and purpose of the portfolio in relationship to the achievement of the course objectives.
  • Recognized the value and legitimacy of learning from experience.
  • Appreciated that learning is a life-long process.
  • Written a five or more page Life History.
  • Prepared a one to two page Chronological Record.
  • Set life/career goals and objectives.
  • Written a one to two page Goals Paper.
  • Differentiated between book learning and practical learning, clarifying the expectation of Northern Virginia Community College faculty evaluators.
  • Assessed his/her own experientially developed competency.
  • Understood NVCC’s expectations regarding the articulation of the experience and learning sections of the portfolio.
  • Demonstrated understanding of principles of documentation, his/her own prior experiential learning and, specifically provided documentation for each learning description recorded in the portfolio.
  • Described and documented competence developed through experience.
  • Assembled a portfolio of life and career accomplishments for submission to Northern Virginia Community College faculty evaluators, prospective employers, or others interested in appraising the student’s competence.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Life history, chronological records
  • Life goals
  • Narrative and documentation
  • Portfolio development
  • Role of faculty resource person.