Describe assignments or other special projects you have completed during the course of your career. Be careful to follow the guidelines described in "ChemE-folio: Getting Started" so that you organize and develop your reflections effectively. Consider attaching to your reflections any "artifacts" that will help you demonstrate the claims you make. Artifacts may include the following:
the project itself (report, slideshow, video, etc.)
the instructor's review
a certificate of completion
a letter or comment from a supervisor regarding your work on the project
peer reviews
a graphic or photo that shows your participation in the project development
Remember to provide appropriate captions for any artifacts as described in the handout. Also, do NOT include any work from a course where other students would benefit from seeing your completed assignment. See note below.
Note: Some of the work you have completed for your courses should NOT be presented in your portfolio. Work such as exams and projects that are directly connected to course content may not be appropriate for inclusion in your portfolio, especially if you make your portfolio viewable to the public. Check with your instructor about any work he or she suggests that would be appropriate to include and work that he or she identifies that should NOT be included. In addition, do not include proprietary information or artifacts in your portfolio. If in doubt, consult your instructor or supervisor. Tip: If you include your work on separate site pages or in Google Docs, you can set the privacy settings such that access to these pages or documents is granted only with your permission even if your portfolio is public.
Where, in what context, was this project completed? Was it part of a course? Internship? Co-op?
What were the purposes of the project, as a whole?
What was the problem or topic your project addressed? Was a project description (or problem) stated, or were you required to identify the problem and describe it yourself?
What were you required to do to complete the project? How did you prepare for the project? What tasks or steps did you complete? Did you create a management plan?
What did the project requirements assume that you already knew? Were there pre-requisites regarding terminology, use of equipment, safety standards, etc.?
Did the project require you to design something to address the problem?
Did your recommendation, plan, or design require you to compare options?
Did your project require you to determine the resources needed to produce a given product or service?
Did your research require you to read, understand, and incorporate information from technical sources such as peer reviewed journals? Which ones?
Did your research require documentation? Did you comply with established guidelines?
Did your research require you to use databases in your discipline? Which ones?
Did your research require you to network with professionals whose expertise would help you solve a problem, compare options, recommend a best solution?
Did you present any of the information in a graphical form? What was the purpose(s) of these graphics?
Did this project require you to maintain a level of confidentiality?
What did you learn (equipment, skills, safety, time management, collaboration, patience) by completing this project?
What challenges did you face to complete the project? Did anything unexpected happen?
How did you overcome the challenges? Provide details.
Did you receive feedback from your instructor or supervisor? If so, what did he or she say?