THE TEACHING PORTFOLIO:

An Approach to Teaching Improvement

Why do a Teaching Portfolio?

What percentage of your working week is taken up by teaching?

What percentage of your vita/resume addresses your teaching?

Faculty are usually well-trained on how to document research and publication activities. It follows faculty should know how to document teaching activities with that same care and vigor. In a portfolio evidence of teaching is presented in an orderly, efficient and persuasive way. The teaching portfolio is a collection of personal statements and reflections about teaching, and sample materials documenting teaching performance. It brings together one's thoughts about teaching and displays one's teaching strengths and accomplishments.

The purpose of constructing a teaching portfolio is to improve teaching performance.

¥ Portfolios can prompt more reflective practice and improvement.

¥ Portfolios stimulate the teacher to reconsider personal teaching activities, rethink teaching strategies, rearrange priorities, and plan for the future.

¥ Portfolios can foster a culture of teaching and new discourse about it.

¥ Portfolios place responsibility for evaluating teaching in the hands of faculty.

¥ Portfolios can help capture the complexities of teaching.