Shape-Shifting Portfolio

According to the article “ Shape-Shifting Portfolios: Milennial Youth, Literacies, and the Game of Life, the millenials will have the advantage to create shape shifting portfolios. Shape Shifting Portfolios are defined collections of skills—for example, educational, social, service, and sports experiences and achievements that can be arranged and rearranged in order to define and redefine oneself as a certain kind of competent person.” As future teachers, it is essential that we encourage our students to continue to change their portfolios.

For instance, the author of this reading describes a young woman named Katie’s portfolio. The author states, “Recently, Katie recognized that that as she attempts to shape shift with her portfolio to showcase her talents and efforts, she may actually need two distinct portfolios—one portfolio to display a focus and concentration of effort and another to represent her flexibility and diversity of effort” (118). I think that creating a portfolio that exhibits your past and present accomplishments is vital for a shape shifting portfolio. However, I agree with Katie because employers want to see that you can be flexible and promote and celebrate diversity.

I also thought that Thomas’s theory on shape-shifting portfolios was interesting. He states, “a lot of people today are, they’re intent on finding the most programs and not how can I better myself? [but] how can I make myself look better?”(119). I agree with Thomas. As teachers we must help our students actually master the things they are putting into their portfolio. What they are learning should be authentic and actually help them become better applicants for the global market.

After reading these accounts on different portfolios, I realized that people must shift-shapes. In our society, technology is changing so rapidly that someone who is unable to change with technology and the world around them will not be a good applicant for a position. Employers want to see that the people they are hiring will be able to continue their professional development, so they can bring more to the work environment.