Undergraduate Portfolio Handbook
Portfolio Assessment FAQs
Electronic Elements



Student Teaching Portfolios and Licensure Portfolios MUST be electronic
  1. Should students use Dream Weaver to produce their electronic portfolios?
    The following are acceptable: Dream Weaver, Front Page, UWP Template, Power Point, WORD, Any HTML editor or PDF (Portable Document Format). Dream Weaver is loaded on computers in B-6 Karmann, 106 Doudna and the IML Doudna
  2. For students who developed their portfolio in Dream Weaver and are now student teaching, how do they complete the Licensure portfolio without that technology?
    • Download the monthly trial version of Dream Weaver from the web
    • Plan time to work in labs during Drive-In Seminars
    • Purchase Dream Weaver
    • Can complete in Front Page.
Autobiography



  1. Will an autobiography pass Student Teaching Portfolio and Licensure Portfolio if it passes Admission Portfolio?
    Yes, unless there are mechanical errors that are missed at Admission Portfolio. It is assumed that the autobiography will not change from Admission Portfolio to Student Teaching Portfolio to Licensure Portfolio.
Philosophy



  1. Which format is better for a philosophy statement? narrative or bulleted?
    Either is acceptable. Student should focus on a clear message with specificity and meaning.
  2. If a philosophy statement passes Admission Portfolio, will it pass Student Teaching Portfolio and Licensure Portfolio?
    Students are encouraged to “re-think” their philosophical understandings of education at each level. IF students rewrite (though, not required), each rewrite should be included in the portfolio and dated. Students are encouraged (though, not required) in Licensure Portfolio to either rewrite their philosophy or write a reflection of how it has changed since Admission Portfolio.
Artifacts



  1. Attachment A – What artifacts are appropriate?
    See Attachment A – What IS and IS NOT an Artifact.
  2. Does a descriptive paragraph without a photo or a document qualify as an artifact?
    No. See What IS and IS NOT an Artifact.
  3. Are artifacts that are pre-UWP acceptable in a Licensure Portfolio?
    Yes. Students are expected to evaluate the appropriateness of the artifact, the alignment, and the reflection for a Licensure Portfolio. Students are encouraged to select artifacts from their professional and college level work and experiences.
  4. Will evaluators assess appropriateness of the artifacts?
    Evaluators review appropriateness of artifacts in all standards. Artifacts need to directly relate to student’s licensure (ie. B-11 or 10-21 Science) especially in Content and Development.
  5. Do students need to identify secondary alignments for WI standards and UWP KSDs?
    Secondary alignments for the UWP KSDs must be listed in alignment statement AND on the alignment chart.
  6. Is a college transcript an acceptable artifact for Standard 1-Content knowledge?
    Yes, IF students excelled in general education classes or the content courses in their major (ie. Science, Math). Students are encouraged also to document how this knowledge enables them to create experiences that make content meaningful to students. (see Standard 1)
  7. Are Praxis II scores appropriate artifacts for Standard 1-Content knowledge?
    Yes. Students are encouraged also to document how this knowledge enables them to create experiences that make content meaningful to students. (see Standard 1). Scores may be removed after Licensure approval.
  8. Do artifacts for Standard 2-Development-have to be specific to a grade level or age for which the student is being licensed?
    Yes.
  9. How many artifacts are needed on Standard 4 - Instructional Strategies-- to demonstrate variety of instructional strategies?
    One artifact is acceptable if the alignment summary statement explains more than one instructional strategy that is in the artifact.
  10. Are speeches in university classes and at conventions appropriate artifacts for Standard 6-Communication?
    Yes. A copy of the text of the speech and a photo are desirable.
  11. Can a student align the artifact(s) with part of the text of a standard without aligning the artifact(s) with the entire text of a standard, and be considered proficient?
    1. Yes. In Student Teaching Portfolio students are encouraged to consider the entire standard.
    2. Yes. In Licensure Portfolio, students are strongly encouraged to consider the entire standard.
  12. Can artifacts in Admission Portfolio also be used in Student Teaching Portfolio?
    Yes. Students are encouraged to re-evaluate the appropriateness of the artifact and how the alignment and personal reflection differ in an Admission portfolio and Student Teaching portfolio. Evaluators expect students to be able to reflect more deeply in a Student Teaching portfolio. Artifact may remain the same. Alignment and reflection will likely change. Admission Portfolio approval does not guarantee approval of Student Teaching Portfolio or Licensure Portfolio.
  13. Should there be artifact(s) from pre-student teaching in Student Teaching Portfolio?
    Students are required to submit 2 or more artifacts from pre-student teaching experiences and practica.
  14. Should there be artifact(s) from student teaching in Licensure Portfolio?
    Students are required to submit 2 or more artifacts from student teaching.
Artifact Reflection (alignment & personal statements)



  1. What makes a good Artifact Reflection?
    1. Answers “Why” the artifact represents evidence of proficiency
    2. Aligns to the standard and may address all parts of the standard
    3. Demonstrates understanding of what the standard means
    4. Articulates how teachers think (principles, theories, tactics) rather than a summary of the activity
    5. Uses theories and vocabulary of educators
    6. Applies to student’s professional growth as an educator
  2. May students write one alignment statement for WI Standard and UWP KSDs that are identical—ie. WI-Content and UWP-Content and Pedagogy?
    Yes.
  3. If students include more than one artifact/reflection per standard, are students accountable for each?
    Yes. All artifacts and reflections under a Standard-regardless of how many-must align and meet the requirements for that Standard. The alignment and reflective statements may be written separately for each artifact or synthesized into one that addresses each artifact.
Mechanical Errors



  1. How many errors (typos, grammar, spelling) are considered not acceptable?
    None.
  2. What errors should evaluators record to give guidance to students?
    Evaluators will record kinds of grammatical errors such as subject/verb agreement, but will not make note of each of these errors. Students should have 2-3 outside readers proofread the portfolio before it is submitted and before each time it is resubmitted.
Professional Development Plans - PDP



  1. Should PDP plans follow the DPI format?
    Yes. This is the recommended format. Go to http://www.dpi.state.wi.us to download template. This is a simulation activity. Seek additional guidance through program coordinators (B-11, 10-14, 10-21, and B-21). Instruction is provided during Pre-Student Teaching.
Miscellaneous



  1. Are students expected to demonstrate proficiency in all of the 10 Wisconsin Standards in the Licensure portfolio?
    Yes.
  2. How is proficiency determined on each of the 10 Standards?
    The following are the criteria:
    1. Quality of Personal Reflection Statement
    2. Quality of Alignment Reflection Statement
    3. Quality of Artifact Selection
    4. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  3. What are the deadlines for Portfolio Submissions?
    Admission Portfolio
    Fall and Spring Pre-Professional Days-October and March
    Required for Admission to SOE and restricted courses
    Student Teaching Portfolio
    B-11 due the 5th week of Fall and Spring semester
    10-14, 10-21, and B-21 due 10th week
    Semester before Student Teaching
    Required for Student Teaching
    Licensure Portfolio
    December 10 and May 10
    During Student Teaching
    Required for Teaching License
  4. How many times may a portfolio be submitted?
    Admission Portfolio
    Pre-Professional Days—Reviewed by 2 faculty
    If not approved, it is resubmitted to the SOE Director.
    Student Teaching Portfolio
    To Program Portfolio Coordinator—Reviewed by 2 program faculty
    If not approved, it is resubmitted to the same two faculty.
    If not approved again, it is resubmitted to the SOE Director.
    Licensure Portfolio
    To School of Education Portfolio Coordinator—Reviewed by 2 (different programs) faculty
    If not approved, it is resubmitted to the SOE Director.
  5. Will students be allowed to submit all portfolios until they pass?
    Yes. Student Teaching Portfolio must pass before student is allowed to student teach and Licensure Portfolio must pass before student receives a teaching license.
  6. Does passing Student Teaching Portfolio automatically mean passing Licensure Portfolio?
    Six (6) Standards that were passed in Student Teaching Portfolio are not re-evaluated in Licensure Portfolio. Design, Mechanical Errors, Four (4) Additional Standards, Professional Development Plan (PDP), WSTDL and KSD alignment charts are evaluated in Licensure Portfolio. In addition, the presence of two (2) artifacts from student teaching, a classroom management plan, a lesson plan, licensure elements are required.
  7. Why do different reviewers evaluate Student Teaching Portfolio and Licensure Portfolio?
    DPI requires that different reviewers serve as a system of checks and balances to ensure a more unbiased review.
  8. Will evaluators comment only on required changes?
    Evaluators will comment on both “suggested” and required changes.
  9. Will SOE course syllabi list the WI Standards and the UWP KSDs?
    Syllabi will list the WI standards and KSDs addressed in each course. However, students can’t rely on the completion of a course as demonstration of proficiency.
  10. If a student completes approved courses successfully, hasn’t he or she met proficiency requirements?
    Graduation from the UWP teacher education program and successful completion of all the coursework does not automatically guarantee licensure.
    • The DPI and UWP SOE have multiple measures for proficiency and licensure.
    • The Praxis II is one of many DPI licensure requirements.
    • The Licensure portfolio with documentation of entry level proficiency in 10 Wisconsin Standards and 22 UWP Knowledges, Skills, and Dispositions is one of the required assessments leading to licensure.
  11. If a student does not want to put personal information (GPA, test scores, etc.) on a website, how can licensure materials be submitted?
    • Hard copies of licensure materials may be submitted in a folder.
    • Electronic copies of licensure materials may be submitted on a CD.
  12. What is the policy for using photos of children in the electronic portfolio?
    Children’s faces must not be readily identifiable and should be blurred.
  13. How long is a UWP student’s website functional after a student graduates?
    Students should have a plan to move their electronic portfolio to another website as soon as they graduate. UWP student websites become inactive 30 days after graduation. Can be extended by departmental request.