Handbook Table of Contents > Preparing to Teach > Teaching Portfolios
Indiana University Teaching Handbook
Preparing to Teach
Teaching Portfolios
Teaching portfolios are becoming a common and highly successful tool for the evaluation of teaching. When done well they can be used for both summative and formative assessments of teaching. Summatively, portfolios give a much more comprehensive and accurate picture of your teaching than any other single device. Formatively, the portfolio helps an instructor reflect systematically and regularly upon his/her teaching. For anyone planning to apply for tenure or for a position at a university, a solid teaching portfolio is essential.
Campus Instructional Consulting runs workshops every fall on how to develop a teaching portfolio. They also have handouts that provide suggestions and guidelines. Your department may also sponsor portfolio workshops.
Another good source of information is The Teaching Portfolio, by Peter Seldin. Seldin has categorized the material of a teaching portfolio into three areas, suggested by the list below. You might begin construction of your own portfolio by generating or collecting as many of these items as you can.
Documents that the teacher produces
- description of your teaching areas, courses
- statement of teaching philosophy
- goals statement
- representative syllabi
- professional development opportunities taken
- self-evaluation of materials, explanation
Documents from peers, students, institutions
- classroom observation statements from colleagues
- peer review of course and teaching materials
- student evaluations and comments
- honors, awards, or other recognition
- invitations to teach or present papers
- documentation of efforts to develop teaching skills
- video or audio tape of a class
Documents showing student achievement
- samples of representative student work
- information, data, statistics about effect on student careers, majors
- alumni statements
- student publications
Links
The following links will take you to additional readings associated with this general section.
- Research involving Human Subjects: Information from the Bloomington Campus Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects.
