Seattle University

SDA Program E-Portfolio

2015-16

Portfolio Learning Outcome Narrative

Your portfolio learning outcome narrative serves as an integrative assessment of your strengths and areas
for growth in the 10 SDA learning outcomes. There are three distinct sections for your narrative:
Strengths, Areas for Growth, and Implications for Professional Practice.
You are required to address all 10 learning outcomes in your narrative, with a minimum of 3 LOs
each for your strengths and areas for improvement and 2 LOs max for the implications for professional
practice. Furthermore, you must use each artifact once in your narrative (except for Artifact K2). In
addition, you may elect to use artifacts more than once.
Please note the maximum page limit for each section as noted in each section. We will adhere strictly to
the word count, and your faculty reader will not review documents beyond this requirement.
Each of the three reflective narratives synthesizes your development in your selected learning outcomes
by drawing upon your artifacts. The subareas/guiding questions noted in each narrative section should be
used only as a guide. Please do not use subareas/guiding questions as an outline for your narrative. Rather
each narrative section should adhere to graduate level writing, including:
logical and structured writing, with an introductory paragraph, 2-3 supporting paragraphs,
and ending with a conclusion paragraph
proper use of APA style (in text citations and reference page)
Lastly, use bolded subheadings to identify which learning outcomes & artifacts you are addressing in
each section and sub-area.
EX: Strengths (LO 1, 3, 4, & 7; Artifacts A, C, D, E & F)

REQUIRED NARRATIVE SECTIONS

Strengths (5-6 pages, double-spaced, 1 margins, 12 point Times New Roman)
What are key strengths that you have developed during your time in the SDA program? How has this
shaped your professional identity and practice?
Provide a narrative that identifies an overarching theme, three unique supporting sub-areas that support
your overarching theme, demonstration of your understanding of your selected learning outcomes, and
demonstration of your development of your selected learning outcomes (see demonstrated development in
SDA learning outcomes section below for more details).
Areas for Growth (5-6 pages, double-spaced, 1 margins, 12 point Times New Roman)
What are significant areas of growth (e.g. new knowledge/skills/action, identifying and/or overcoming
key challenges, etc.) during your time in the SDA program? How has this shaped your professional
identity and practice?
Provide a narrative that identifies an overarching theme, three unique supporting sub-areas that support
your overarching theme, demonstration of your understanding of your selected learning outcomes, and

Seattle University
SDA Program E-Portfolio
2015-16
demonstration of your development of your selected learning outcomes (see demonstrated development in
SDA learning outcomes section below for more details).
Implications for Professional Practice (2-3 pages, double-spaced, 1 margins, 12 point Times

New Roman)
Given the strengths and growth areas you have identified, what are the implications for professional
identity and practice you anticipate having in the student development field?
Provide a narrative that identifies an overarching theme, three unique supporting sub-areas that support
your overarching theme, demonstration of your understanding of your selected learning outcomes, and
demonstration of your development of your selected learning outcomes (see demonstrated development in
SDA learning outcomes section below for more details).

DEMONSTRATED DEVELOPMENT IN SDA LEARNING OUTCOMES

(Required for Each Narrative Section)
Identify an overarching narrative theme: What is this theme? Why is this theme important to you
personally and professionally? Connections to student development theory, research, and best practice are
required (use proper APA citations).
Identify three unique sub-areas that address your selected learning outcomes in the SDA program:
You may use an individual LO as your area of focus or you can create a synthesized area that brings
together more than one LO.
(1) Demonstrate Understanding of Learning Outcome(s) in each area: In this section you will explain
what your understanding of learning outcome(s) is in each area. For each respective sub-area, define three
key dimensions of each of your selected LOs, and identify one or more SDA Program
Content/Experiences (such as student development theory, research, and/or best practice) that have shaped
your key dimensions. Use proper APA citations. Reference particular sections of your (1) artifact(s) and
(2) academic and co-curricular experiences to substantiate your points.
(2) Demonstrate Development in Learning Outcome(s) in each area: For each of your selected learning
outcome(s), illustrate how you have developed. Specifically, address your understanding prior to the SDA
program, growth during the SDA program, and areas to address after you graduate the SDA program:
(a) Past (Prior to SDA Program)no more than 10% of the narrative: Explain each area and
your thoughts, values, and assumptions prior to the program.
(b) Present (During SDA Program)80% of the narrative: Explain your understanding and
growth in each selected learning outcome during the program. Connections to student development
theory, research, and best practice are required to illustrate integration (use proper APA citations). In
particular, to demonstrate your (1) understanding of the LO and (2) your development in the LO,
reference particular sections of your (a) artifact(s) and (b) academic and co-curricular experiences to
substantiate your points.
Guiding questions include: How has your understanding of this learning outcome changed during the
SDA program? Where was the growth? How did you grow? What did you learn? How are you a
different professional today because of this development?

Seattle University
SDA Program E-Portfolio
2015-16
c) Future (Post-SDA Program)no more than 10% of the narrative: How will you continue to grow
in each of these areas?