Because you are told to!

As it is a requirement for the M. Sc. course, the 'why' of using a portfolio is already taken care of. However, an appreciation of the structure and philosophy of portfolio use will be of benefit to you.

Portfolios offer a convenient way to structure your work.

During the programme, you will be working with data in a variety of formats (for example; audio files, graphic files, databases, Macromedia Flash animation, HTML documents, text files, etc.) and a portfolio will provide a structure whereby you can catalog and order these materials. There is a good degree in the manner in which you decide to structure your portfolio. You may decide, for example, that your portfolio should follow a chronological structure. Here, items might be clustered with regard to the semester or year of the programme with which they are associated. Alternatively, a portfolio might be structured on a 'by topic' design, so that there are discrete areas in the portfolio that relate to key activities or areas of study encountered curing the programme.

Think of a portfolio as a 'mind map.'

The term 'mind map' is primarily associated with the use of some proprietary software packages. In a more general sense, you can think of a mind map as a graphical representation of a central concept or idea which is then 'unpacked' so as to identify key underlying elements. So, the physical organisation of your portfolio will reflect (but not in a rigid fashion) the key elements and disciplines that constitute your work on the M. Sc. in IT in Ed. Your key concept or idea (Bryn's 'Big Idea) may evolve over time, but this evolution will be supported by the development of your portfolio.

Portfolios help those assessing your work.

Your work will be assessed and commented upon by professionals in a range of disciplines. Professionals are also human, so they will appreciate a well-structured artefact that will allow them to examine your work efficiently. The use of a portfolio will make it eminently clear that you have reached (and no doubt exceeded) required standards.

Portfolios can combine the professional and the personal.

Portfolios allow for the recording of observations that relate to one's professional practice. A practitioner can benefit greatly from the critical examination of his or her own practice. These observations will inevitably be shaped by personal experiences. The structured recording of such observations, as part of a reflective section in your portfolio, has the potential to become a key element in both your personal and professional development.

Portfolios are organic.