My Colby-Sawyer Experience
“What I really want to do is make change—social justice and environmental change that will better the world.” - Stephanie Seavy '07, graduate of Community and Environmental Studies Program
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learning portfolios
Assessment of Student Learning: Liberal Education Learning Portfolios
The Liberal Education Learning Portfolio provides students with an opportunity to concretely demonstrate how they have met Colby-Sawyer's learning outcomes, and provides the college with the documentation necessary for on-going assessment of student learning. The portfolio is a selective and reflective demonstration of the achievement of the learning outcomes through students' experiences over their years of learning at Colby-Sawyer College, both inside and outside of the classroom. While students receive direction and support on the development of their portfolios through interactions with other members of the college community, students are the authors of their own portfolios.
Liberal Education Learning Portfolios demonstrate the achievement of all of the learning outcomes, and, at the student's initiative, include reflections on a range of experiences across the major, the Liberal Education Program, and the college.
The portfolio demonstrates personal and professional growth throughout the college years.
Portfolio Elements
The Liberal Education Learning Portfolio provides evidence that students have met the outcomes of the college and provides the college with a systematic way to assess its effectiveness in providing a liberal arts education for students. Students have the primary responsibility for the final product and the reflective components of the portfolio.
By the time students are in their final semester at Colby-Sawyer College, they will have collected materials and written reflections that demonstrate how they have met the college learning outcomes. Students enter materials from five selected courses and their major acceptance essay into their e-portfolio
Students may also add such elements as:
- a list of co-curricular activities and a reflection on which outcome(s) was addressed through the activities;
- a resume;
- and written reflective statements discussing the role of college experiences (courses and other) in the achievement of the liberal education learning outcomes.
Format of Portfolios
Student portfolios are archived electronically, and graduates take a CD with them for use in future professional or advanced learning settings. Portfolios are available for review by college constituents for program reviews and institutional assessment.
The process for review of the portfolios is fine-tuned annually by the Assessment Committee, and through the regular program review process.
