Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) TExES Practice Exam

What is the benefit of using portfolios as an assessment tool in writing?

1. They are quick to evaluate

2. They show progress over time

3. They highlight only the final product

4. They create a standard for grading

The correct answer is: They show progress over time

Using portfolios as an assessment tool in writing offers significant advantages, particularly in demonstrating progress over time. One of the fundamental purposes of a portfolio is to capture a student's body of work across a period, allowing both educators and students to review and reflect on development in skills and understanding. This continuous collection of work can showcase the evolution of a student's writing abilities, illustrating themes such as improvement in skills, shifts in style or voice, and increased complexity in thought or organization. By tracking progress through various stages of writing—from drafts to final submissions—portfolios provide a more comprehensive view of a student's learning journey. This contrasts sharply with assessments that focus solely on final products, which may not give a full picture of individual growth or challenges faced along the way. Portfolios encourage reflection and self-assessment, fostering deeper engagement with the writing process as students evaluate their own progress and set future goals. This method of assessment also aligns with contemporary understandings of education that emphasize mastery and learning as ongoing processes, rather than mere outcomes. Through the lens of a portfolio, educators can ascertain not just what a student has achieved at the end of a term but how they have developed their skills, adapted feedback, and grown as writers over time.