Portfolios as Valid Assessment Tools

I think that portfolios can be valid assessment tools because of how comprehensive they are in their nature. Portfolios are designed to showcase the expanse of someone's ability and I think that when they are done well they can do just that. Because of the variety of materials included in a portfolio, I think that they can be more valid than other assessment tools in terms of identifying how much a student has actually learned through completing the various assignments for the portfolio. If the assignments are diversified well, portfolios can be a comprehensive form of assessment while other forms (an essay, multiple choice test, etc.) gauge a student's performance in a smaller area of expertise. While I do not necessarily enjoy having to complete all of the different aspects included in a portfolio, I do think that they can be a valid form of assessment of a student's abilities when they are formed and then completed well.