Portfolio

A teaching portfolio usually includes a teaching statement and a selective collection of teaching materials that document evidence of teaching effectiveness.

Why create a teaching portfolio?
How do you create a teaching portfolio?
What is a teaching statement?
How can you articulate a teaching statement?

Why create a teaching portfolio?

A Teaching portfolio allows you to:

• Clarify and refine teaching practices.
• Be proactive in providing a learner-centered environment.
• Define your personal style of teaching.
• Reflect on your journey as a teacher.
• Clarify your commitment to teaching and learning.
• Focus on the learning process and attainment of course goals.
• Help students learn by example through the instructor’s reflective teaching practice.
• Involve students in the learning process by providing regular feedback.
• Justify to yourself and others the reasons why you teach the way you do.

How do you create a teaching portfolio?

• Start as early as you can to collect teaching-related materials.
• Regularly sort and select best evidence of your teaching effectiveness.
• Reflect on the selected documentation.

When developing your teaching portfolio, reflect on these questions:

• Why do you teach?
• How do you teach?
• How do you assess the effectiveness of your teaching?

Developing a Teaching Portfolio

Chapter 2 in The Cornell University Teaching Evaluation Handbook contains more information on portfolio development.

What is a teaching statement?

A teaching statement is a self-reflective essay that articulates your conceptions of teaching and learning in your discipline and how you implement these in your class. Developing your teaching statement can be a beginning step in the creation of a teaching portfolio.

How can you articulate a teaching statement?

• Identify your teaching goals using the ‘Teaching Goals Inventory’.
• Summarize your ideas about teaching with the ‘Teaching Perspectives Inventory’.
• Decide if you want to focus on teaching strategies within your discipline or teaching in general.
• Remember that your teaching statement should reflect your personal values.
• Write the statement in the first person.
• Do not include quotes from others or references.

When developing your teaching statement, consider the following:

• What are your course objectives?
• What methods do you use to achieve your course objectives?
• How do you know that your students are learning?
• How often should you review and update your teaching statement?
• How do you incorporate your discipline’s perspectives on teaching?
• What is challenging about learning what you teach?
• What implications do those learning challenges have for how you teach your content?
• What kind of evidence do you need to determine the quality of your students’ learning?
• Do you have a long-term teaching development plan?

Places to Go Next

Observations
Peer Review of Teaching
Teaching Evaluation Handbook

References