Creating a Teaching Portfolio Paul Quick TA Program Assistant Office of Instructional Support and Development (OISD) Instructional Plaza North University of Georgia

What is a teaching portfolio? An extended teaching resume A communication of your teaching philosophy, experiences, goals, performance, and effectiveness as a teacher A collection of materials that documents over an extended period of time the full range of your abilities as a college teacher

Why Develop a Teaching Portfolio? For a graduate student or post-doc, it : Can help you get a job! – institutions used them – institutions used them Can help you in applying for teaching awards, research grants, travel grants, and dissertation completion grants. Can help you reflect upon and improve teaching

Why Develop a Teaching Portfolio? Throughout your career, use portfolios for: –Annual reviews –Promotion and Tenure Dossier –Post-Tenure review –Teaching awards –Demonstrate how teaching has evolved over time –Reflect upon and improve teaching –Foster culture of teaching/Mentor junior faculty

Not Going Into An Academic Job? Portfolio shows Job-Related Skills Derived From Your Teaching and Research –Working with people (classroom management) –Working with data & information –Working with things (computers,a-v equipment) –Working with ideas (creativity with content lesson planning)

Two Types of Portfolios FOLIO (>15 pages) –The warehouse of all the materials needed to document your teaching. PORTFOLIO (<10 pages) –Small packet with specific jobs and institutions in mind. One copy is sent before campus visit. Multiple copies are available during campus visit.

Items to include in a FOLIO (>15) Teaching Philosophy The Curriculum Vitae List/Description of Courses Taught Sample Teaching Materials Student Work Samples Innovative Teaching Projects Professional Activities Related to Teaching Special Training Evaluations

Items to include in a PORTFOLIO (< 15 pages) Teaching Philosophy C.V. List of Courses Taught (as opposed to description) Short Presentation of Teaching Evaluations Other Relevant Material for the Specific Position Sought

Teaching Philosophy Statement A written one to two page statement Avoids technical terms Narrative: in first person Reflective and personal Creates a vivid portrait of a person who is intentional about teaching practices and committed to career as a teaching scholar

The Curriculum Vitae Education Experience section(s): Teaching, Research, Ad. Awards, Honors, Grants Publications/Presentations Committee/University Involvement Special Skills Association Memberships/Activity Community Service Other activities specific to discipline, geographic region, or type of institution

Description of Courses Taught Many simply list If include description, consider including: –Type of course (introductory, capstone, required) –Type of students in course (majors, non-majors) –Your role in course, work load, responsibilities –Instructional format –Semesters taught

Sample Teaching Materials Sample syllabi, lesson plans, study guides, reading lists, assignments, tests, handouts List of computer software used in course Sample of course contracts indicating course rigor and expectation levels

Samples of Student Work Student scores on assessment done at the start and completion of a course Student work with your comments –Graded student essays –Student projects –Field reports –Other assignments

Innovative Teaching Projects Games or simulations related to course content Case studies you have written Lab manuals Supplemental instruction you have used

Evaluation of your Teaching Quantitative data from courses Teaching awards, honors Faculty/Peer assessment of mastery areas Faculty/Peer assessment of areas of improvement/development Data documenting student learning Video tape of your teaching Student evaluations, comments

Web Portfolios

Examples of Electronic Portfolios Jennifer Brill – Instructional Technology – Alexis Hart – English – James Rada – Mass Comm –

Summary: Steps to Creating a Professional Portfolio Write your Teaching Philosophy Statement & CV Summarize teaching responsibilities Select items for the portfolio from boxes Teaching, Research, Service Arrange the items in order that makes sense for your philosophy Create portfolio using plastic sheet protectors and a professional quality case/holder

Graduate School Teaching Portfolio Certificate Program Graduate Schools emphasis on the value of good teaching for UGA and its graduate and professional students Certificate and recognition in Commencement program November 2, 2004 Deadline (five copies) More information: – portfolio.htmlhttp:// portfolio.html

Creating a Teaching Portfolio Questions?

Putting the Portfolio Together Dont let your collection of stuff determine the theme of the portfolio Reflect on the WHY before focusing on the WHAT –Why do you do what you do as a teacher? Statements made in the philosophy statement need to be backed up with evidence in the portfolio

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement

Teaching Philosophy Statement A written one to two page statement Avoids technical terms Narrative: in first person Reflective and personal Creates a vivid portrait of a person who is intentional about teaching practices and committed to career as a teaching scholar

Components of a Teaching Philosophy Statement How you think learning occurs How you think you can intervene in this process What you think are the main goals for your students What actions you take to implement your intentions Your plans for personal growth as a teacher

Components of a Teaching Philosophy Statement How you think learning occurs –Metaphor: journey, fine-dining experience –Learning styles How you think you can intervene in this process –What is the role of the teacher motivation, content, feedback, assessment, learning styles, different abilities

Components of a Teaching Philosophy Statement What you think are the main goals for your students –Content –Process: critical thinking, writing, problem solving –Life-long learning –Affective domain: attitudes, values, ethics What actions you take to implement your intentions –How you conduct classes –How you mentor students –How you develop instructional materials –How you assess students

Web Resources –TA Support Services –Names and Links to Web Pages –Sample Portfolio: –Links to Portfolios resources:

Web Resources University of Wyoming Portfolio Resources: – About Teaching Portfolios (Iowa State University): – Michigan State University: Tips on Reflective Teaching: – Bibliography of Portfolio articles: –

Getting Started Beginning to Write A Philosophy of Teaching Statement

Reflecting On Your Teaching Recall a time when you had a wonderful educational experience.What does this suggest to you about teaching and learning that you might apply to your work? Recall a painful or difficult educational experience.What does this suggest about teaching and learning that you might apply to your work?

Reflecting On Your Teaching Recall a time when you felt you did a terrific job of teaching someone.What made this such a positive experience? How might you encourage this to happen again? Recall a time when your teaching did not result in the desired learning.What went wrong between intention and performance? What does this suggest?

Reflecting On Your Teaching Put yourself in your students' shoes. Imagine you are a student in your own class. Write some notes to yourself describing the educational experience you would like to have

Reflection: Teaching Philosophy Why do you want to teach? Why do you like to teach? How do you see teaching flowing from your discipline? How do your courses fit within the larger framework of curriculum in your department? In the institution?

Reflection: Teaching Philosophy Whats your philosophy about students? Learning Styles? Student preparedness? What you want them to acquire in college? How do you work with students who are academically struggling? What is your role as a teacher? How do you monitor what/whether your students are learning?

Reflection: Teaching Philosophy Describe a teaching success from the past year. Why did it work? Describe a flop. Why didnt it work? What new strategies have you tried in the last year? What did you learn from them? How has your teaching changed over the last 5 years? What do your syllabi say about your teaching style? your interest in students?