Teaching Portfolio 101
Are you a recently hired faculty member who wants to document all
activities related to teaching? Are you a full-time faculty member
wanting to improve teaching methods or preparing for a promotion?
If you are, then you may want to consider creating a teaching portfolio.
The basics
A teaching portfolio is a collection of materials that document,
summarize and highlight your strengths and experiences as a teacher.
Per se, a portfolio provides documented evidence using a variety of
sources (like syllabi, student work, self-reflections, etc).
Accomplishments play a part, as well as selected samples that show
whoever is rifling through the portfolio how you teach.
The rationale
- For beginners, it can set you apart from other candidates when looking for a job.
- For
permanent faculty, it can serve as concrete evidence of your
effectiveness when it comes to teaching, and can supplement
recommendations for promotion committees.
- For teachers in general, it can serve as a reflection on the teaching practice, and a basis for self-improvement.
- It shows not only your work experiences, but how and why you teach.
- Portfolios are a unique way of showcasing your skills and principles as a teacher.
- It can best highlight strategies, teaching approaches, student assessment, and most importantly, results.
- It
summarizes your best work, systematically presented, so others can
learn about your solutions to the issues involving the world of
teaching.
The inclusions
It is actually up to you to choose which materials are available,
important or significant to your development as a teacher. But to give
you a start, here are some ideas:
- Course planning and preparation - can include the syllabus, handouts or lecture notes
- Actual teaching presentation - can include comments from observers, student evaluations or videos/recordings of actual class sessions
- Evaluating students and giving feedback - evaluation assignments and graded work (with comments on how the evaluation was given)
- Currency in the field -
reading materials used for presentations, attendance at professional
conferences that focus on new methods of teaching, etc.
- Statement of teaching philosophy – what is the teacher's role? Describe how you teach and why you teach that way
- Teaching responsibilities - classes taught, student demographics
- Instructional innovations - non-traditional teaching settings
- Teaching goals for the next five years
- Peer evaluation - from those who observed a class or taught students in subsequent classes, can also come from the department head
- Honors or recognition - teaching awards or nominations for awards
- Sample student works - can show a range of student performance and how you dealt with it
- Student journals or anything indicating growth in a wide range of areas or in your specific subject - achievement of students with your mentoring can also be used
- Record or account of students who majored in the subject you taught and credits your influence
- Testimonials - from student assistants, guest teachers, collaborators, and employers of former students
- Published articles or books on the teaching discipline
- Off-campus activities and community involvements related to teaching
- Self-evaluation
Sources:
“A Guide to the Teaching Portfolio.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://www.gradschool.unh.edu/pff/portfolio.pdf
“Preparing A Teaching Portfolio.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/teachfolio.html
“Writing a Philosophy of Teaching Statement.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://ftad.osu.edu/portfolio/philosophy/Philosophy.html
(Published 11 May 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
