PORTFOLIO METHODOLOGY TO ENHANCE THE EVALUATION OF SKILLS AND COMPETENCES IN COMPUTER ACTIVITIES

This paper presents the authors’ experience in the use of a learning portfolio and information technologies for continuous evaluation and assessment of student learning process. Research was conducted at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Jaén, within the subject “Statistical Methods in Labour Relations” and “Financial Mathematics” that appear in the current plan of studies of the University of Jaén.

The implementation of a platform of Virtual Teaching enables us to achieve effective learning environments and improve the teacher-student interaction. Nowadays, notes are adapted to a more dynamic process and the practical part is carried out by activities, questionnaires of self-assessment, lists of exercises and practices that are sent to students and corrected by the lecturer or automatically by the system. The new learning system requires lecturers to develop not only innovative methods to teach, but also smart methods to evaluate.

Our students are used to solving activities with computer packages (Statgraphics or Mathematica). On the one hand, in computer classroom we find a number of students suitable to apply the portfolio methodology and on the other hand, the characteristics of this method let enhance the evaluation of skills and competences in computer activities. This methodology encourages students to create, individually and in groups, their own collection of computer exercises that show their learning evolution. Students were surveyed to discuss the acceptance and learning effectiveness of this methodology. Results indicated that portfolio assisted them in developing computer skills, structuring their learning environment and evaluating their own work.