A learning portfolio

One of the things that is so great about the PYP is its emphasis on a community as learners. As a community at Newington College Lindfield, we are continually developing an understanding of the PYP and sharing our learning with others. The teachers continually learn just as the students do and there is evidence of this learning in lessons in the classrooms, in the ways we teach and the activities that are designed for learning by the teachers. As educators we recognise that learning doesn’t only happen at school and that much of what happens in the classroom can be missed by parents. Recently we set about looking for an easy way of showing student learning on a regular basis.

This is known as a learning portfolio and the purpose of a learning portfolio aims to provide a record of learning over time for each student. It bridges the gap between home and school in what the student is able to do and the development that is shown. Recently we adopted the use of an app called Seesaw which has allowed your son’s learning to move into homes in a timely and meaningful manner.  The potential for a two-way communication that this app provides fills a potential void between home and school.

We all realise, on a daily basis sometimes, how difficult is it to get anything from the boys about what happened at school that day – what they did, what they learned. Often it can be a grunt or a one-word answer and sometimes nothing at all. Using a learning portfolio, such as Seesaw, information about learning during the day has already reached the homes sometimes even before they the students have arrived there. The students post their choice of work themselves and therefore display independence and responsibility with their learning.

As a learning portfolio is a record of learning over time for each students that combines reflection and documentation it becomes a purposeful collection of student work showing the learning that is happening in the classroom. It can provide evidence of effort, progress and achievements exhibited by each student and allows for powerful discussion and conversation about not just the activity but also the understanding about the earning experienced.

Seesaw is now being used to share student learning within our school community. It engages students in ongoing, reflective, and collaborative analysis of learning. It encourages students to be responsible to not only record their learning but also for the learning that is taking place. It provides relevant and timely feedback for families which increases responsibility for learning by individual students.

For students Seesaw has the ability to empower our students to independently document their learning providing an authentic audience for their work. For families it gives an immediate and personalised window into their son’s day at school and makes communication with teachers seamless.

Sue Gough – PYP Co-ordinator