Beyond Portfolios
February 18, 2009
After 13 years of work getting a K-12 education, why is it that all a student has to show for it is (if things go well) a diploma?
It seems to me like our goals should be so much different, such as:
In writing: students should have a very rich blog with hundreds of quality posts on it, as well as several major self-published pieces and several other items that were genuinely published by outside sources (editorials in the local paper, columns for a trade magazine, etc.)
In science: students should have at least one patent and/or at least one invention that they’ve actually created a prototype for (or, better, that has had copies of which have actually sold)
In math: students should be able to balance a checkbook, understand how to stay out of debt and avoid credit spending, and understand how to interpret biased statistics and advertisements correctly; they should also be able to solve any real-world math problem they may encounter in life (figuring out the reduced cost of having improved gas mileage, determining the amount of interest that would accrue on various home loans, figuring out which jar of peanut butter costs less per ounce, being able to make two-thirds of a batch of something, etc.).
In social studies: students should be able to read every article in the newspaper and understand (when applicable) the article’s significance and the historical events that have led up to the event being described. When applicable, students should also understand the geography of the location(s) being discussed, as well as the religious and political backgrounds of the people groups involved
Finally: students should be heading to their post-K-12 life with a plan for the future, rather than just heading to college because everyone is doing it. They should have an extensive understanding of a significant number of careers in their preferred field(s) of study as well.
Entry Filed under: Education, Elementary Education, Learning, Secondary Education, Students, Teaching, school. .
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1. Beyond Portfolios, Part 2 « The Elementary Educator | February 20, 2009 at 12:24 pm
[...] 20, 2009 After typing my previous post, Beyond Portfolios, two days ago, imagine my delight today, as I’m reading What Would Google Do? byJeff Jarvis, [...]
2. A portfolio instead of a diploma « BuzzMachine | February 20, 2009 at 1:38 pm
[...] day, he was reading What Would Google Do? and found that we agreed on this, I’m happy to say. Mark’s ideas: After 13 years of work getting a K-12 education, why is it that all a student has to show for it [...]
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jbreazeale | February 20, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Some schools (such as those based on expeditionary learning) do take a portfolio-based approach (although maybe not quite as advanced as you’re describing.) I’d love to see this expand through the community.
4.
Easycure | February 20, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Awesome stuff…I love it.
5. Mark Pullen & Jeff Jarvis on ‘Beyond Portfolios’ « white rice culture | February 20, 2009 at 11:15 pm
[...] Jeff Jarvis – “A Portfolio Instead of a Diploma” Mark Pullen – “Beyond Portfolios” [...]
6. Getting out of debt | Finance Articles | February 21, 2009 at 9:47 am
[...] Beyond Portfolios « The Elementary Educator [via: http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/02/20/a-portfolio-instead-of-a-diploma/Posted by robertogreco via delicious [...]
7. Portfolios vs. diplomas - what should education give? « The Hannay Angle | February 21, 2009 at 12:52 pm
[...] Educator Mark Pullen had an interesting blog post recently about giving students more concrete rewards from their years of education: After 13 years of work getting a K-12 education, why is it that all a student has to show for it is (if things go well) a diploma? [...]
8. A portfolio instead of a diploma « Research | February 22, 2009 at 8:38 pm
[...] day, he was reading What Would Google Do? and found that we agreed on this, I’m happy to say. Mark’s ideas: After 13 years of work getting a K-12 education, why is it that all a student has to show for it [...]
9. More than a diploma « Online Journalism | February 23, 2009 at 7:48 pm
[...] than a diploma This is interesting – a recent post on a blog by a Michigan elementary school teacher who has some ideas on enhancing your standard high school [...]
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Top Ten 10 tips for Communication Students « Breanna Gaddie | Photojournalist | March 10, 2009 at 3:37 pm
[...] learn new skills, your employer will find someone else The Elementary Education – Beyond Portfolios Buzz Machine – A portfolio instead of a diploma UMass Journalism Professors Blog – A Look to the [...]
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jwaddell623 | May 10, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I think the idea of a comprehensive portfolio is excellent. Students would have an array of accomplishments at his or her fingertips, allowing teachers and others to see their progression through the years. Your ideas about the possible accomplishments a student should make in the different curriculum areas are also good- they are creative and challenging.