SLP Portfolio Development ~ Department of Speech Language & Hearing Science

Over the next four semesters or more, you will be developing your portfolio, which should result in a package that is hard copy as well as electronic. For your electronic portfolio it is required that you use your SLHS computer account, since you can store electronic documents there and create a CD-ROM version when you are ready to submit materials for review to advisors and supervisors. It is suggested you maintain a hard copy set in your own notebook, and create a folder in your account that contains the electronic documents as well.

Instructions for Set Up: When you log into your account use you FirstName.LastName as the login, and you will be prompted to enter a password. Go into “My Documents” on the computer careen and create a folder called “SLHS-Portfolio”. This folder will actually be stored on the SLHS computer server, and will be accessible to you (and only you) from any of the machines in the lab (provided you log in under your user account). As you collect and create documents, you should scan any letters or hard copies for which you do not have electronic versions (such as Clock Hour Record Forms for each semester) so you can store in your SLHS-Portfolio folder.

The first thing to store and begin working on is your electronic version of the KASA attached to these materials. This becomes the organizing framework for your portfolio and is needed to document you have completed all necessary requirements in preparation for your CCC and completion of the program. A completed KASA is the cornerstone of documenting your competency development consistent with the Council on Academic Accreditation through ASHA and has to be completed and turned in for review prior to graduation. Please be sure you have saved the electronic version of this document and begin to complete it as instructed in center staff meetings. You have enough experiences now to begin using this document and recording those classes and clinical experiences you have successfully completed You also need to refer to the attached suggested “Table of Contents” so that you can include all of the required elements in you portfolio and supplement these necessary documents with other data as you se fit.

When you complete your portfolio and /or when you are submitting “essential experience” documents for review by faculty and/or specific supervisors use the CD-ROM writer on the server. You can also use this (providing your own CD-ROM) to create back-ups along the way. It is highly recommended that you use a re-writable CD-ROM disk (which is more expensive but allows you to write multiple times if you are interested in storing files on the same disk over time.) Remember, all of the files are protected and are not accessible by others, only you. There is a tech support person for the SLHS lab that can answer questions if you might need help.

Commonly Asked Questions…

Why a Portfolio? A portfolio is one way to document the process of learning. It is meant to be a dynamic compilation of data that reflects your growth in knowledge and skills over time. It is both formative and summative in nature.

As a faculty, we have chosen the portfolio as a way to document your process of developing competencies consistent with entry-level knowledge and skills in the profession of speech-language pathology. This is required as part of your completing the requisite coursework and clinical education experiences for the Clinical Certificate of Competence. Use of the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) Summary From for Certification in Speech-Language Pathology (March, 2003) as an organizing framework for your portfolio will facilitate documentation that you have completed all requirements necessary for certification consistent with the articulated standards of the Council of Academic Accreditation.

The portfolio can also be used as a career-planning tool that documents your individual achievements and areas of developed expertise as well as your readiness for employment. Be able to hand over a complete (albeit edited) CD-ROM summarizing your credentials and specific experiences may be very helpful in your search for preferred employment settings after graduation.

What is the Council of Academic Accreditation? This is a separate body of professionals that acts in conjunction with the American Speech Language Hearing Association, (ASHA) your national association, to assure standards of excellence in personnel reparation are adhered to by participating educational institutions. The Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado in Boulder is an accredited institution. This is important too you, as it signifies that your preparation as a professional meets all of the requisite standards articulated by this body and enables you to qualify ( with appropriate documentation) for the Certificate of Clinical Competence as you graduate and complete your Fellowship year.

Where can I learn more about the Certificate of Clinical Competence and why this is important to me as a professional?

Just get online and go to www.asha.org to the ASHA portal for additional information about certification requirements and how this enables you to document your credentials as a practicing professional. You may want to download the CCC requirement information as well as information regarding the clinical fellowship and keep it for easy reference as you matriculate through the program.

Okay… So what do I create in this portfolio besides the KASA Summary Form for Certification in SLP?

It is suggested that the following be kept in your portfolio on an ongoing basis and updated at the end of each semester…

1. KASA Summary Form

2. Competency Development Documentation including but not limited to electronic versions of Semester (PEPS) Cumulative Evaluations, Self Evaluations, and Semester updates of Professional Growth Plans …Again these should reflect process in competency development over time.

3. Clock Hour Record Forms for each semester documenting hours of clinical experience in terms of knowledge and skills

What are the essential learning experiences? It is expected that you will document a minimum of three essential leaning experiences across several skill development areas (prevention, assessment and intervention) during your semesters in residence as a graduate student. This material will need to be reviewed by specific supervisors involved with the clinical experience you are documenting. The order of completion and specific clinical experience you choose to document is up to you and should reflect competency development in the specific skill area. All essential learning experiences with the exception of the Internship Evaluation Documentation need to be completed and reviewed prior to your last semester in residence. This necessitates that you plan ahead.

What would documentation of an essential learning experience in prevention look like? This may be as simple as a clock hour record of your screening experience in hearing and/or speech with a simple one page reflection regarding new learning or it may be a sample powerpoint presentation of an inservice provided to others regarding a topic in prevention or it may be materials utilized in a presentation or directed observation with parents regarding a topic of prevention with a simple one-page self-reflection of new learning or it might be a video of your experience talking to others ( children/ faculty/ others) regarding the need to prevent vocal abuse ( on the playground, in the classroom ,or in other situations). You have multitude of choices but plan documentation of this essential learning experience early in your course of study. Be sure to check out suitability as a documentation of prevention with the supervisor involved prior to completing the documentation.

What would documentation of an essential learning experience in assessment look like? This may be as simple as a completed final sample report that reflects your writing ability with all corrections made and all identifying information deleted and it may be supplemented with a video segment of your interviewing skills and self-reflection (See Self-reflection Tool distributed in Clinical Theory & Practice) completed as part of a Dx clinical experience or it may be video segments of STAP or other procedures completed during an assessment or it may be a video and self-reflection regarding potions of a follow-up conference session. Again, a sample report is required that reflects your ability to integrate and interpret assessment information. Which clinical experience you choose to document and supplement is up to you but must first be reviewed by the supervising faculty member for appropriateness and satisfactory fulfillment of the requirement.

What does an essential learning experience in intervention look like? It is expected that you will prepare a case study documenting one of your clinical experiences with an individual or group, or other type of clinical intervention experience. This would include at a minimum a semester treatment plan and summary report that documents specific goals and objectives, pre and post data collection, intervention strategies, client reactions and self-reflections. This may be supplemented with pictures and/or video (Please be sure to check on permission) as appropriate and may be in such depth as to be submitted as an ASHA presentation or publication. Again, this calls for planning ahead and you may choose to plan this experience with one of your supervisors so that it can be extended over time and/or reflect a clinical research question.

Criteria for satisfactory completion of each of the above essential learning experiences will be discussed in center staff meetings.

What else is necessary for satisfactorily completing my portfolio?

It is suggested you follow the attached outline for the recommended table of contents and create sections for each of the designated elements suggested. It is necessary that you include copies of unofficial transcripts, PRAXIS scores, documentation of successful completion of comprehensive examinations (Letter from Coordinator of Graduate Studies) OR research section if thesis option, and documentation of level of language proficiency if applicable. This is in addition to the completed KASA and Competency Development and Clock Hour Summary data and Internship Evaluation From. to be updated each semester in residence.

What does the suggested Table of Contents look like? Elements are listed. Again it is recommended that you delineate a section for each element and plan ahead to choose and document specific essential learning experiences in high areas of interest with supervisors.

Table of Contents:

1. Knowledge & Skill Acquisition (KASA) in Speech Language Pathology*

2. Competency Development to include but not limited to: PGPs ( semester) PEPS (semester) Self-Reflection (semester).* Other artifacts might include letters from individuals you have worked with, evaluation summary data from groups you have led, parent satisfaction data from CLC etc)

3. Clock Hour Summary Forms ( Semester updates & Cumulative Summary)*

4. Essential Learning Experiences *

· Prevention*

· Assessment*

· Intervention*

· Other Performance Based Assessments that might include (Interview Self-Reflection & Summary SLHS 5110; Minim grant proposal; Language Sample Analysis from SLHS 5062; Videotape Self-Reflection from CLC etc.)

5. Transcripts*

6. PRAXIS Scores *

7. */Comprehensive Examinations (Letter of Satisfactory Completion) &/OR

8. *Research (Thesis Option)

9. *Internship Application and Evaluation

10. Documentation of Level of Language Proficiency (if applicable )

11. Career Section

· Leadership Plan ~ Letter of Intent with Professional Focus

· Resume

· Recommendations

* Required for satisfactory documentation.