Quick questions on IT portfolios, for those who have ventured before me. I'm new to portfolio assessment and distance learning, so bear with me here. I've tried to do as much research as possible on the net, and have found some great info from folks like Steve L. and others. However, the invariable lingering questions have reared their ugly head ... I am preparing to submit a ton of portfolios to TESC. My question is this. Can I "nuke" the lower-level classes using overwhelming force in my evidence, or do I have to tediously demonstrate the things taught (specifically) in the lower-level class? Let me illustrate with a fictitious example. Lets say that in real life, I was the original author of Microsoft Word, the popular word processing program. If I were going to try and portfolio out of "word processing fundamentals", couldn't I just substantiate my rear-end off with the fact that I created Microsoft Word, or would I still need go into a discourse on how to edit files, etc.? A real example that applies to me. In real life, I've been published in several books, quoted in several major industry magazines, and have published a variety of technical whitepapers (on the UNIX operating system), including some pretty hairy stuff down at the system/kernel level. If I am trying to portfolio out of "Introduction to UNIX", isn't this enough? It seems to me that anyone who is reasonably knowledgeable in the subject matter would be able to quickly ascertain that because I have knowledge at exponentially higher levels in this subject, that I would be able to do the basics. Its sounds kind of silly to have to write a discourse on "here are all the ways I've learned to list files in a directory" - lol. Pardon me if this has been covered before - I didn't see anything concrete when I searched. As I mentioned, I'm still trying to get my arms around portfolio assessment. Also, if anyone out there has direct experience with obtaining either a BA in Computer Science or the BSAST from TESC, I'd love to pick your brain via email or phone. Email me at [email protected]. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or insights! Cheers.
Hello, I successfully completed a portfolio at Thomas Edison and recently attempted to portfolio 9 graduate credits at Jones International. Those results are still unknown. I suggest you skim a textbook. If the course is taught at Thomas Edison you can probably have your local library order it. Break your portfolio down to information following chapter order. The narrative must be informative and interesting. Following chapter order in the book made this easier. When you are done have someone honest read it. My portfolio was not technical but I suggest you have it professionally bound at a Kinkos. Borrow a book of quotations. Start and and with a famous quotation that reflects the topic. Credit that quotation. If you have any certificates that equal ACE credit include that notation. Good Luck. amanda jane ------------------
Sorry for the error in the above posting. I meant start and finish with a quotation. ------------------
Amanda - thanks for your input, but my question still remains: can I use overwhelming evidence and short, to the point, narrative, in lieu of a longer, drawn out narrative. I feel comfortable producing and packaging the portfolio - I just have questions as to the content. Cheers.
Hello, My narrative was only four pages. It was rejected initially. I resubmitted it after organizing it the way I posted and it was acceptable. The narrative did not expand. The evidence was organized like the text that supports the course. Good Luck. amanda jane
I don't know much about this, but here's a link to Steve Levicoff's famous AED post about TESC portfolios: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=6bd9s8%24705%40dfw-ixnews4.ix.netcom.com&output=gplain
