Many have described our current era as the age of communication because of the new opportunities technology and networks have afforded business, entertainment, education, and research. At the same time, educators are being asked to carefully assess their teaching based upon student academic performance.   One method growing in popularity is the portfolio.

Portfolios are not new. Artists, architects, and actors have been using them for years. They include samples of what they have already accomplished whether they are pieces of art, clips from films or buildings they have designed.

As we begin to collect evidence that portfolio construction itself can be a reflective process and one of social construction of knowledge, the age of portfolios is beginning to dominate our assessment landscape. The advantages of creating portfolios electronically increases their distribution, condenses their portability, and provides an opportunity for more extensive feedback and perhaps even reflective practice and deep thought.

As the popularity of electronic portfolios increases so has the myriad of ways to create them from using generic tools to professional and sometimes costly assessment systems.  In this Quest you will define your outcomes and analyze a number of models to determine which is best for your particular needs.