Capstone: The Aletheia Instructional Portfolio
AICI 601 is the culminating studio. You will curate, write, design, and defend a complete portfolio that documents your evolution as an Aletheian designer of learning—showing not only what you made, but how and why you made it.
ADTL Fit: The capstone makes ADTL visible as a coherent practice: evidence, iteration, cultural integrity, aesthetic clarity, and ethical intent are braided into a defensible design story.
Define your capstone focus, audience, and claims—then frame a narrative arc that can withstand critique.
- Articulate what your portfolio proves about your design practice (claims + warrants).
- Define your intended reviewers (students, peers, admin, higher ed, clients) and what they should see.
- Capstone framing brief: your focus, domain, and design problem.
- Story arc mapping: “before → turning point → after” (evidence-aligned).
- Capstone framing sheet + first-pass portfolio storyline (1–2 pages).
ADTL Connection: Orientation clarifies purpose and ethics: what your work is for, who it serves, and what it protects.
Demonstrate mastery by defending your capstone proposal in a critique format—then revising based on targeted feedback.
- Present your proposal using a 3-part defense: intent, evidence plan, and audience value.
- Receive critique using 3 prompts: clarity, coherence, and credibility of evidence.
- Revise proposal with a documented change log.
- Revised proposal + critique notes + change log.
Select artifacts that prove your claims and show iteration—then sequence them as a coherent evidence set.
- Choose artifacts that evidence ADTL domains (cognitive, cultural, aesthetic, ethical).
- Include proof of iteration: drafts, feedback loops, and redesign decisions.
- Evidence sorting: “strong signal / weak signal / missing signal.”
- Create a portfolio evidence map: claim → artifact → what it proves → what’s missing.
- Evidence list + evidence map + initial sequence outline.
ADTL Connection: Synthesis requires curated evidence—your portfolio becomes the designed proof of learning and practice.
Exhibit mastery by running a gap analysis against your claims and revising your evidence set for completeness and balance.
- Identify at least 3 evidence gaps (missing domain, missing iteration, missing learner perspective).
- Replace or add artifacts to resolve gaps and strengthen credibility.
- Write a short defense for why each artifact belongs.
- Revised evidence map + gap analysis memo.
Write the narrative that explains your decisions: what you designed, why you designed it, and what the evidence shows.
- Use “designer commentary” structure: intent → constraints → choices → evidence → revision.
- Write with clarity and credibility: avoid vague claims; anchor in artifacts.
- Commentary outline lab: one paragraph per artifact using a shared template.
- Voice alignment pass: scholarly yet approachable, method-driven, design-studio tone.
- First draft commentary (artifact-by-artifact) with citations/links to evidence.
ADTL Connection: Reflection becomes authored—your commentary turns “work” into meaning and defensible rationale.
Demonstrate mastery by revising your commentary through critique—tightening claims, evidence references, and voice.
- Run a “claim audit”: every claim must cite an artifact, a student signal, or a revision decision.
- Refine voice: remove filler; increase precision; keep warmth and approachability.
- Submit a revised section with a tracked change log.
- Revised commentary excerpt + critique notes + change log.
Design the portfolio interface: layout, hierarchy, navigation, and visual rhythm so the work reads as a coherent system.
- Apply visual hierarchy and structural consistency across sections.
- Ensure accessibility: readable type, contrast, predictable navigation, alt text planning.
- Portfolio wireframe lab: section layout + navigation scheme.
- Visual system pass: typography, spacing, and consistent artifact presentation patterns.
- Portfolio layout plan + styled sample page (one section prototype).
ADTL Connection: Aesthetic experience is not decoration—structure and clarity are part of how understanding is communicated.
Exhibit mastery by critiquing your portfolio layout for coherence, usability, and accessibility—then revising based on findings.
- Run an accessibility checklist (contrast, headings, reading order, link clarity, alt text plan).
- Conduct a usability walkthrough: can a reviewer find your claims and evidence in under 60 seconds?
- Revise layout and document changes.
- Accessibility report + revised layout excerpt + change log.
Prepare a defense that is clear, calm, and evidence-driven—so your portfolio reads as a designed system with purpose.
- Tell a design story: problem → intent → design decisions → evidence → revision → impact.
- Answer critique prompts without defensiveness: clarify, cite evidence, revise.
- Defense outline: 6–8 minute narrative with “evidence anchors.”
- Critique prompt rehearsal: answer common reviewer questions with artifacts.
- Defense deck outline + speaking notes + evidence cue list.
ADTL Connection: Mastery is communicable—design must be defended through rationale and evidence, not preference.
Demonstrate mastery by rehearsing your defense, integrating feedback, and strengthening clarity, pacing, and presence.
- Run a timed rehearsal with 2 feedback sources (peer + self review).
- Identify 3 improvements (clarity, pacing, evidence referencing, transitions).
- Revise talk track and document changes.
- Revised defense notes + feedback record + change log.
Translate the capstone into a living practice: routines, workflows, and next-step design problems you will pursue beyond the course.
- Build a sustainable workflow: design cycles, reflection cadence, evidence capture, critique loops.
- Define your next 90 days: a design problem, implementation plan, and evidence strategy.
- Practice blueprint: weekly routine + monthly critique + quarterly portfolio update.
- Future design roadmap: goals, milestones, risks, supports, and evidence checkpoints.
- Ongoing practice plan + 90-day roadmap.
ADTL Connection: Mastery is iterative—your practice becomes the continuing studio where learning remains designed.
Exhibit mastery by completing an exit critique of your portfolio and presenting a future roadmap that is specific, evidence-driven, and feasible.
- Run a full portfolio critique using 3 lenses: coherence, evidence strength, accessibility/usability.
- Present your future roadmap: next design problem + implementation plan + evidence collection strategy.
- Submit an exit reflection describing what changed in your practice through the capstone.
- Exit critique notes + future roadmap + exit reflection.