Portfolio Part One: Classroom and Training Experiences

Course outlines and objectives set forth the instructor/institutional goals for a class. However, they seldom correspond exactly to what an individual student learns from the class. Thus, be certain to isolate what you personally achieved from this experience rather than what a course bulletin or syllabus indicates you should have learned.
Course Descriptions, syllabi, or outlines; official transcripts/reports of grades achieved; samples/excerpts of assignments you completed; written instructor comments on your work including speech evaluations; licenses or certificates earned; written evidence of class participation required; official statement of qualifications necessary for admittance to the class.

Portfolio Part Two: Learning From Work Experiences

Description of Section:

Learning from a work experience differs in nature and kind from learning acquired in the class/training experience. For example, classroom learning is much more focused and concentrated than "real life" In a work experience, you must identify what is important. Different people often learn substantially different things from the "same" job. There seldom is an "instructor figure" to distill and organize the experience to make the learning structured, clear, and relevant. Consequently, it usually takes longer to acquire knowledge and skills through a work experience that it does through a training or educational experience. Additionally, the knowledge and skills attain by two persons in similar positions may be radically different. In short, describe in detail what you learned -- not what someone else may have learned from the same job.

Portfolio Documentation:

Performance evaluations by your supervisor, official job description, awards, letters of recommendation/congratulation for high performance, evidence of promotion, samples/excerpts of work produced, evidence of suggestions adopted, or specific projects/innovations that you organized or created.

Portfolio Part Three: Other Life Experiences

Description of Section:

Sometimes a hobby, campus activity, or community service activity can result in knowledge and skill attainment that is directly relevant to your career. For example, you might learn the rudiments of facility management by scheduling ice time for the teams in your hockey league. You might acquire principles of budgeting and/or accounting as treasurer of a club or sorority. Perhaps, you have attained the ability to select and edit commercial music beds as a by-product of piano study or playing in a band. Do not overlook sources of learning outside the obvious situations or the workplace and college-classroom.

Portfolio Documentation:

Copies of publications, writings, or drawings; newspaper articles describing our proficiency or contribution; letters confirming your participation with service organizations; commendations, recognitions, and awards received; photos of items you built/created together with certifications that the item pictured was your work.

Samples:

• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3