ABSTRACT
The study of human development, child development in particular, is fundamental to best practice in early care and education. Portfolios are an expression of Constructivism, a theoretical perspective that embodies a certain way of thinking about human learning and development. Portfolios are situated within the context of Constructivism, the larger backdrop that helps define and explain the relevance of portfolios, a tool for learning, for children and adults. Strong connections exist between Constructivism as a teaching orientation and human development. Understanding what Constructivism is and how it differs from traditional educational philosophy sheds light on some of the difficulties many adult learners and teachers encounter when working with portfolios. The first is that Constructivism is a particular way of describing the nature of learning and development and how knowledge is acquired. Constructivism tells an important story about the social and cognitive aspects of, and conditions for, learning.
