Academic Portfolios, Holistic Learning, and Student Success in Higher Education

Academic Portfolios, Holistic Learning, and Student Success in Higher Education

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Academic Portfolios, Holistic Learning, and Student Success in Higher Education

Paradoxically, higher education can fail to achieve high expectations due to formalized learningoutcomes. Accreditation requirements trump learning. My paper conceptualizes the studentacademic portfolio as an assessment strategy to close this gap. As a body of evidence, itpublicizes mastery of learning from the first to final year of a degree program. The portfolio alsodepicts goals and skills development that aligns to an institution’,s mission and the student’,schosen discipline of study. My aim is to present how, when implemented to best practice, theacademic portfolio facilitates enrollment to graduation success.The particular focus is to depict the academic portfolio as a way of organizing assessment.Reflective statements and direct and indirect instruments document holistic ownership andattainment of personal and pre-professional goals. The artifacts also demonstrate alignment oflearning with general education competencies and program outcomes.The paper first summarizes relevant literature on holistic learning in higher education. It nextdiscusses the comparative advantages of academic portfolios as a basis for student success.Third, it locates this assessment strategy in the context of 21st century higher education skillsand competencies for diverse student populations. Finally, it presents the strategy as acontribution to student development theory.Key Words: e-portfolio, assessment, holistic learning

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