Professional Portfolios

1. Professional Portfolios Objective 9.01 Classify components of an early childhood professional portfolio. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

8. EXAMPLESEvidence 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

9. 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

10. EXAMPLESEvidence 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

11. 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

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

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

14. What other samples and evidences can YOU think of that could be included in YOUR portfolio?How about these? D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. Letters of Reference and Recommendations • Something that recommends, especially a favorable statement concerning character or qualifications D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

19. 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

20. 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

21. Lesson/Activity Plans • Writing samples • Bulletin boards • Lesson Plans D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

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

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

24. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio • 1. Have you used self-reflection to identify your strengths? D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

25. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio • 2. What skills and qualities are employers looking for? D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

26. Top 10 Skills and Qualities • Communication skills • Honesty/integrity • Teamwork skills • Interpersonal skills • Strong work ethic • Motivation/initiative • Flexibility/adaptability • Analytical Skills • Computer Skills • Organizational skills D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio • 5. Does the material you’ve included ADD VALUE to your portfolio? D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

43. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio • 6. Does the portfolio have a professional-looking appearance? D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

44. 3 Steps to an Outstanding Portfolio:Reflect, Collect, and Select • REFLECT on how you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, personal qualities, interests, and experiences. • COLLECT examples that prove the skills you want to highlight. • SELECT samples that show your BEST work. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios