Getting Started on Your Teaching Portfolio

2013 Future Faculty Teaching Fellows Summer InstituteJulie Saam, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of EducationAssistant Dean

School of EducationIndiana University Kokomo

Useful websites to browse:

Creating a Teaching Portfolio

Washington University in St. Louis

http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/ProgramsforGraduateStudentsandPostdocs/resources/Pages/Creating-a-Teaching-Portfolio.aspx

Teaching Portfolios

Vanderbilt University

http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-portfolios/

What is a teaching portfolio?

A teaching portfolio is a goal-driven collection of materials that document one’s teaching performance over time. They serve to highlight one’s teaching strengths and accomplishments.

Why do we need one?

Job ApplicationsAward DossiersFellowship DossiersAnnual Reports3rd Year ReviewsTenure Dossiers

Unlike an artist’s portfolio, a Teaching Portfolio must display work indirectly, through description, documents, and various forms of evidence.

You know how to do this! Use your research skills!

Documentation in a Portfolio

What should you collect for your portfolio?

Brainstorm with the person sitting next to you regarding possible items to collect for portfolio inclusion.

Categories of Evidence include:

VitaTeaching AssignmentsCurriculum DevelopmentStudent EvaluationsProfessional/Peer EvaluationsProfessional DevelopmentTeaching MaterialsScholarship on Teaching and LearningStudent InteractionsProfessional ServiceCommunity Service

Keep your CV updated

Keep a list of the courses you

teach…include the number of

students

Curriculum Development

How have you altered your curriculum each semester/year?

What evidence did you base the changes?

Student Evaluations

End of course evaluations are usually required and some are standardized.

Do not let that deter you from allowing students to evaluate you and the course at varying times in the semester or allowing students to evaluate specific components of the course curriculum or instruction.

Professional EvaluationsGet someone to

conduct a peer review of your teaching.

Include assessment of materials & classroom

observation.

Professional Development

Workshops, seminars, etc. attended

Getting Started on a Teaching Portfolio

Teaching Materials…

Sample syllabi, handouts

Course/program development

materials

Organize by course.

Presentations, Research, and Publications on

TeachingInternal/External

• Organize or Present in a Teaching Session at Professional Meeting

• Seek to publish teaching materials in teaching outlets

https://facet.indiana.edu/publications/journals.shtml (http://www.iuk.edu/academics/ctla/sotl/index.shtml )

Student Interactions

Academic Counseling, Mentoring, Out-of-class

contacts, etc.

Professional Service

Professional Organization Teaching Committees

Review for Teaching Journals

Community Service

Have you taught others (besides college students)

something about your field?

Start Collecting Now!

Start a file system (electronic or paper) to place relevant items according to the different categories of evidence.

Self-AnalysisTeaching Philosophy and

reflections

Everything else in the portfolio should tie into

this statement.

What is it that I do well?

Outstanding Lectures? Facilitate Discussions? Encourage Critical Thinking? Mentor Students? Use Technology to Promote Learning?

Connecting Evidence to Self-analysis

Sometimes the analysis framework is developed by the author of the portfolio… 3rd Year Review

…and sometimes it is directed by the evaluation team of the portfolioFACET dossierTrustees Teaching AwardClaude Rich Teaching Award

DON'T throw all of your course materials into a file box (or 3 ring binders) and call it a portfolio

DON'T include all of your teaching materials—it will be too cumbersome, even if it is organized

DON’T try to make your portfolio look like someone else’s—it is an individualized product

DON’T try to construct a portfolio in a weekend—the teaching portfolio is a long-term dynamic process.

Some DON’Ts

Some DO’s

DO be succinct in your writing and selective of the documents

DO use your portfolio to develop, reflect upon, and improve your teaching.

DO remember that evidence does not speak for itself. No matter how vast or impressive, the content of your portfolio needs interpretation.

DO remember to integrate the elements of the portfolio to your teaching philosophy

A good instructor borrows ideas from others…

Don’t be afraid to look at other instructors’ portfolios or to talk to others about teaching.