What is a teaching portfolio?
A teaching portfolio is comprised of a set of related materials-including work samples of actual performance and reflective commentaries focused on particular teaching moments-that create a coherent picture of your classroom teaching practice. They are typically used for two reasons:

1. as a developmental process for reflecting on and improving one's teaching; and
2. as an evaluative product for personnel decisions such as tenure, promotion, or a teaching award. If you are interested in developing a portfolio, either on-line or on paper, CNDLS has several resources and examples of portfolios. Please contact us to set up a consultation or stop by our office in 314 Car Barn.

What can a teaching portfolio do?
A portfolio can capture the complexities of teaching, develop reflective practice in teaching, foster a culture where teaching is valued, and encourage professional accountability. Demonstrate skill in core tasks of teaching: course planning & preparation (syllabus), actual classroom teaching (lectures, labs), evaluating student learning (exams, papers), professional development (self-reflection)

The First Steps in Assembling Your Portfolio
A. Choose a Format:

1. Teaching portfolio: displays the entire range of a faculty member's teaching contexts
2. Course portfolio: focuses on the relationship between teaching and student learning in a particular course

B. Identify Steps of the Process:

1. Identify & collect materials
2. Write a teaching statement
3. Choose a specific teaching moment
4. Write a reflective commentary
5. Select & organize entries

C. Collect Materials:

1. Course outlines schedules & syllabi lesson plans
2. Lecture notes, handouts, study guides, quizzes
3. Marked & graded student papers & exams
4. Feedback & evaluation forms
5. Student video of teaching

D. Teaching Portfolio Contents

1. Introduction: Statement of teaching philosophy; description of teaching context/s
2. Selected Entries: Introduction to course/s; reflective commentaries
3. Supporting Documents: Sample teaching artifacts; teaching course certificate, academic c.v.

Hints and Tips

• Start small
• Include reflection
• Work samples are key
• Aim to develop a case or argument
• Value process as much as product