Professional Portfolios

Objective 9.01

Classify components of an early childhood professional portfolio.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

What is a portfolio?

• A collection of materials that demonstrates a person’s skills, accomplishments, and attributes • Can be in paper or electronic format D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Purpose of portfolios---to showcase your experiences and prove your skills • To apply for a volunteer experience • To carry to an employment interview • To carry to a scholarship interview • To seek enrollment in a school or course D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

What categories of samples and evidences should be included in a portfolio?

• Documentation of experience • Evidence of developmental knowledge • Evidence of skills • Work samples D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Documentation of Experience • Anything that confirms that the work and education experiences you are claiming really happened D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

EXAMPLES Documentation of Experience • Photos working in education and child care settings • Work agreements/contracts • Work evaluations • Certificates of completion D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Evidence of Developmental Knowledge • Anything that shows you have an understanding of basic theories about child development and of characteristics of children at various ages D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

EXAMPLES Evidence of Developmental Knowledge • Photos of a child as he/she learns/grows/develops • Sample work of children at different ages • Case study of a child • Child observation reports • Samples of developmentally appropriate activities/toys/games designed for individuals or age groups of children D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Evidence of Skills • Anything that shows your use of skills you claim to have • You in action using your skills D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

EXAMPLES Evidence of Skills • Photos of a person using a skill • Certificates for completion of training • Test scores on skill tests • Items produced using specific skills • Letters from people who have seen a skill in action or benefitted from its use in some way D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

More Ways to Document skills

• Photos showing you in action using skills • Photos showing things you have made/done using your skills • Work samples that reflect your skills • Letters or comments from people about your skills as seen in action • In each case, specific skills should be identified and labeled D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Work Samples • Actual things you have made, done, planned, constructed, designed, performed, or written D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

EXAMPLES Work Samples • Writing samples • Lesson plans • Bulletin boards • Children’s art and other work done by children under your direction D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

What other samples and evidences can YOU think of that could be included in YOUR portfolio?

How about these?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Resume/Career Goal

• A brief, written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience • Often prepared by an applicant for a job D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Photos of involvement

• Don’t assume viewers can tell what’s going on in the photo • Always include captions or labels D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Awards & Certificates of Achievement  Something awarded or granted, as for merit D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Letters of Reference and Recommendations

• Something that recommends, especially a favorable statement concerning character or qualifications D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Evaluations

• – – – – Internship or other work evaluations and comments from ECE Teacher Cooperating teachers in internship sites Parents of children in sites Children themselves D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Transcripts

• An official report supplied by a school on the record of an individual student • Listing subjects studied, grades received, etc.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Lesson/Activity Plans

• Writing samples • Bulletin boards • Lesson Plans D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Other Work Samples

• Writing samples • Bulletin boards • Original learning games • Original learning materials • Original stories, poems, song, finger plays D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Community Service

Services volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  1. Have you used self reflection to identify your strengths?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  2. What skills and qualities are employers looking for?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Top 10 Skills and Qualities

1. Communication skills 2. Honesty/integrity 3. Teamwork skills 4. Interpersonal skills 5. Strong work ethic 6. Motivation/initiative 7. Flexibility/adaptability 8. Analytical Skills 9. Computer Skills 10.Organizational skills D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Communication Skills

• Excellent communication skills are the number one thing that employers and interviewers look for in a candidate. • These can be verbal (spoken and written) or nonverbal (body language).

• You must be able to show that you can communicate, listen, and interact with others in a professional manner.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Honesty & Integrity

• • • This is another very important quality employers look for in a person. Make sure that any information you provide in your portfolio is done with all honesty as you may be asked about the situation.

If possible, give examples that demonstrate a situation that required integrity.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Teamwork skills

• Back up any claims you make regarding teamwork in your resume with portfolio examples.

• Present the portfolio during the interview, showing and confirming previous experiences you have had with teamwork skills.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Interpersonal skills

• You must be able to prove your interpersonal skills to the interviewer or employer during the interview. • These include skills such as: working alongside others, being able to evaluate and accept responsibility, making teamwork more efficient, and identifying methods used when dealing with conflicts.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Strong Work Ethic

• You must be able to prove that you are willing to go beyond the call of duty for your employer. • You are willing to give 100% commitment to the company and the job.

• Show that you have high career goals.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Motivation & Initiative

• You should give examples during your interview to get across that you are motivated and can show initiative when left to your own devices.

• Be able to explain or show how you would keep things moving forward even with obstacles in your way.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Flexibility & Adaptability

• Give examples from previous positions that show your adaptability to situations.

• Show you are able to be flexible, change gears, focus quickly, and adapt to change or expectations.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Analytical Skills

• Give examples that show off your analytical skills, backing up claims with your portfolio during the interview.

• Employers and recruiters look for ways that you have been able to analyze and clearly identify problems. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Computer skills

• With today's modern technology focusing on the use of computers, computer skills and understanding of various types of software are essential.

• Prove you are literate in the use of computers and software in your resume or portfolio.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Organizational skills

• Prove that you are able to organize quickly and in a clear manner.

• Show that you are not afraid to take charge of a situation and find a solution. • Show by giving examples from previous situations in your resume or portfolio.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

How to Demonstrate the Qualities Employers Want

• Identify your skills • Skill types: – Technical – Transferable • Skill sources – Work experiences – Life experiences D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  3. Have you shown that you have a wide range of skills to prepare you for the job?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Skill Types

• Technical skills include specific skills related to your career goal.

• Transferrable skills include the qualities employers seek. These are skills you have acquired from various experiences that can be useful in many situations.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Why Provide Evidence of Skills?

• Providing evidence of previous times you have successfully demonstrated your abilities is the best way to convince employers that you have the skills, qualities, and abilities they are looking for.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  4. Have you chosen your BEST work and evidence to represent your GREATEST strengths?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  5. Does the material you’ve included ADD VALUE to your portfolio?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio  6. Does the portfolio have a professional-looking appearance?

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

3 Steps to an Outstanding Portfolio:

Reflect, Collect, and Select

1. REFLECT on how you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, personal qualities, interests, and experiences.

2. COLLECT examples that prove the skills you want to highlight. 3. SELECT samples that show your BEST work.

D-9.01-Professional Portfolios