Assessing Communication Skills Through Portfolios
In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, strong communication skills are more important than ever. Whether it’s in the workplace, academia, or personal relationships, effective communication is key to success. Traditional methods of assessing communication skills such as exams and written assignments have their limitations. However, an alternative approach that has gained popularity in recent years is the use of portfolios.
A portfolio is a collection of work samples that showcase an individual’s abilities, accomplishments, and growth over time. When it comes to assessing communication skills, portfolios offer several advantages. Firstly, they provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s communication abilities across various contexts and mediums. Unlike exams that only test theoretical knowledge or assignments that focus on specific tasks, portfolios allow students to demonstrate their skills through real-world examples.
Portfolios can include a wide range of artifacts such as essays, reports, presentations, videos, podcasts, and even social media posts. This diversity allows both the student and the assessor to see how well they communicate through different channels. For example, someone might excel at writing but struggle with public speaking or vice versa. Portfolios offer a holistic view of these strengths and weaknesses.
Furthermore, portfolios encourage reflection and self-assessment. As students curate their work samples for the portfolio submission process
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