Capstone portfolios for learning and evaluation

Portfolios are a collection of student work over a period of time. Capstone project portfolios incorporate many forms of written artefacts, e-pages, electronic samples as well as audio-visual material. The development of writing skills from minor project proposals to major reports or dissertations is an ongoing learning exercise for the student. For the educator, portfolio development is a method of continuously evaluating and commenting on a student's work, culminating in a final major report. This portfolio report may be in traditional format, or may take the form of several artefacts, viz. electronic portfolios, written report, computer program 3D model, paper poster, (WWW) web page and electronic posters. As well as the incorporation of oral presentations which develop communication skills for working within an industrial environment. However, for academic purposes stratification of assessment grades is required, by both peer group assessment and independent academic assessment. Examples of capstone portfolio content will be given showing that which is submitted formally, and that which remains for the students' learning.