Background | Implementation | Student Performance | Reflections | Comments

Background Notes - Portfolio project outline

PORTFOLIO PROJECT
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
GRADUATE PROGRAM
IN
PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION

"The one who attempts to be an artist and has not learned the craft is never going to be an artist”
                 —Diana K. Osburn, Ed. A Joseph Campbell Companion

Purpose: To provide students a framework for continual personal and professional development and learning.

Characteristics:

• Unique
• Personal/Professional
• Creative
• Goal oriented
• Current/on going
• Reflective

Potential Elements:

• Goals
• Resume
• Class Projects
• Work Projects
• Observation
• Significant learning experiences
• Source references
• Reflections

Format:

• Journal
• Compilation of activities and projects
• Categorized by competencies (State of Kansas, Canadian Civil Service, ICMA)
• Reflective essays

Resources:

• Faculty portfolio coordinator
• Faculty (to be used as a tie to academic setting during the intern year)
• Mentors
• Supervisors
• Members of previous MPA classes
• Administrative Director

Other Resources:

• The Reflective Manager: How Professionals Think in Action by Donald A. Schon, Basic Books, Inc.
• "Leadership Skill Development Requires Practice," David Maxwell, pp. 19-20, IPMA-HR News, March 2003.
• State of Kansas Competencies: http://da.state.ks.us/ps/subject/comp/default.htm
• Canadian Civil Service Competencies: http://www.coach.gc.ca/webs/overview/structure.asp
• ICMA Competencies: www.icma.org
• Student portfolios in KU Public Administration office
• Student portfolio on line at http://www.geocities.com/mrkrothert

Questions guiding portfolio development:

• What are my goals and where do I want to be?
• What is my present level of learning and what gaps in learning do I hope to fill in the near to immediate future?
• Over the past (day, week, month, year), what has been my significant learning?
• What are the experiences that have changed me?
• How does my portfolio reflect that learning?