ABSTRACT
Adult developmental portfolios contain selected samples of evidence showing incremental learning and growth over a specified period of time. The prerequisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions practiced and honed in the developmental portfolio are later employed by the portfolio builder to accomplish tasks and projects in order to demonstrate mastery of external criteria as required in showcase, professional, and assessment portfolios. Developmental portfolios are used in some courses as a means for students to develop specific knowledge, skills, and dispositions that they will use in course projects and will later employ in the projects and products that will form their showcase portfolios. The content of professional portfolios reflects the requirements set out by employers, just as developmental, showcase, or assessment portfolios reflect requirements set out by their guiding authorities: an instructor, an institution, a state credentialing body, or a professional association.
