Student portfolios take on many roles in a student's learning process and offer an alternative to traditional assessment. Innovative teachers often incorporate portfolio work in a traditional unit of study or chart student progress over an entire academic year.

The portfolio allows students to record not only the core content material they are responsible for learning but also their thoughts and reflections on the material. Simple assignments and handouts stand on their own in the mind of a student while the portfolio allows them to collect their work over time in a comprehensive, concise manner.

Critical thinking skills shine in a portfolio when a student sits down to compose a written reflection of the material they have studied. Problem solving strategies and other higher ordered thinking is exercised during these reflections. Students are encouraged to write more than with traditional assignments, building their grammar skills and writing ability.

Case studies and long term problems can be handled over the course of a unit, semester or year in the work of a portfolio. Science teachers can utilize portfolios to track progress in the laboratory setting. English teachers can see improvement in writing ability and style. Foreign language teachers can see the increase in a student's vocabulary and usage. In short, all areas of academics can benefit from the use of student portfolios.

It is in these manners that teachers can assess student achievement in new ways. Not only are the assignments objective, they also lend an objective piece so that teachers can see the cognitive development of the student.