Can portfolios support learning and assessment of substantive law?

Yes! The key advantage of using a portfolio here is that it obliges students to provide evidence of engagement with the course or module as a process of learning, not just engagement with the assessment.

Example

A portfolio for a substantive law course could include:

• notes and evidence of reading (for example a bibliography or photocopied title pages of articles etc) completed as part of seminar preparation
• individual action plans identifying the follow-up work undertaken after each seminar
• evidence of specific tasks completed in the module (for example a research trail or case note writing exercise)
• a critical self-reflection on performance in (practice) assessments
• a revision plan
• a commentary on learning and development over the course of the module

Last Modified: 22 July 2010