Evaluating Portfolio Use as a Learning Tool for Professionals

Abstract

Portfolio use has become lauded as an alternative assessment tool. In this paper, the developmental use of portfolios is advocated, stressing a self‐regulative and reflective deployment of the portfolio. Two studies, portfolio construction and compilation by principals and managers, as different types of users, in the context of a training course to monitor changes in the conceptions and evaluation using of portfolios as a tool for providing functional feedback. Both studies showed a marked similarity in their findings, concluding that high quality portfolios can only be expected after sustained use. The portfolio use made an immediate impact on the participants’ views on assessment. However, it was difficult to promote reflection; the essential skills in this respect need to be developed further. It is concluded that, despite their time‐consuming nature, portfolios can be regarded as instruments that provide relevant feedback for learning.