What Should Go Into My Portfolio?

Your portfolio (a LaTeX document of course) should broadly include the following items, in order:

1. Title Page:

Your title page should include your name, course number, and term submitted.

2. Table of contents indicating contents and a means for locating each portfolio item.

3. Portfolio Items:

Your portfolio items will consist of 3 examples of your (hopefully) best work. I will probably specify two of the settings and allow you to choose the last one yourself.

i) Each item must be from a different unit of the course.

  • at least one portfolio item must be from Units III, IV, or VI (Newton's Laws including torque)
  • at least one portfolio item must be from the Units II or V (Kinematics)
  • at least one portfolio item must be from Units VII, VIII, IX, or X (energy, momentum or circular motion)
  • at least one item must use meaningful calculus in it's solution.
  • at least one item must contain a significant FreeMat component.

ii) One of the items must be a setting and problem which you designed yourself

For each piece of work you need to include:

1) A preambulatory paragraph (otherwise known as an abstract) which summarizes the physics, context, and principle outcomes of the subsequent portfolio piece.

2) This is followed by your presentation of the setting for the physics problem.

3) Your presentation of the problem would generally be followed by your solution or resolution of the problem.

4) If you think of interesting extensions of the problem to explore other ideas which occurred to along the way this would be a good time for them.

5) A little reflection about the relevance or applicability of the particular problem to life or science and what you learned in the process.

6) Throughout the presentation you will, naturally, take care to note and comment on the various outcomes you are meeting in the course of the presenting and solving this problem. These outcomes will be tabulated on the outcomes checklist sheet handed out in class and also available on the web.

My evil plan is that you should not only learn some skills in this class but you should be able to articulate what you learned (insert gasp of shock and horror!!).

4. Portfolio Rubric: after each portfolio item.

5. Outcomes Checklist: At the end of the entire portfolio

The Outcomes Checklist is for YOU to fill out and verify that you have demonstrated that you meet the outcomes of the class. While this may feel like it will be an aggravation if you read the outcomes thoughtfully I think you will find this less painful than you thought.

When Is My Portfolio Due?

You may turn each section of your portfolio in as you complete it if you wish. You should have the tools to begin doing so in the second half of the term. In the end your complete portfolio must be submitted by Wednesday of finals week. I will give you a tentative assessment of your efforts based on a quick scan. I will have reasonable time to adequately assess your portfolios over the break and offer various pithy and rambling ruminations about your efforts this term. If a closer inspection of your portfolio requires it I can always adjust your grade appropriately.

How Will My Portfolio be Evaluated?

In evaluating your portfolio I will be using the following criteria as articulated in the rubric:

  • Inclusion of required contents

  • Professionalism in appearance – take pride in your work!

  • Clarity and understanding of the course outcomes being demonstrated

  • Clarity of skills and physics understanding being demonstrated.