Electronic portfolios as a tool for assessing student outcomes

A portfolio has been described as a "purposeful collection of student work that exhibits the student\´s efforts, progress, and achievements". The portfolio design should be driven by a clear understanding of the outcome desired and the specific skills to be assessed. There are multiple benefits and some disadvantages in using portfolios of student work as a means of assessing student outcomes. The Rose-Hulman electronic portfolio (RosE-portfolio) process was designed to minimize the disadvantages of the paper portfolio process and maximize their usefulness for the assessment process.