Using teaching portfolios to document accomplishments, improve teaching

Madison, Wis.—Sept. 6—Teaching portfolios are not only an effective way to document teaching accomplishments for tenure and promotion reviews, but they also help teachers become more self-reflective, said Monica A. Devanas, Ph.D., director of faculty development and assessment programs, The Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Rutgers-The State University.

“As you do a teaching portfolio you can’t help but improve,” said Devanas, who was speaking at an online seminar sponsored by Magna Publications. “Just the idea of thinking about teaching produces greater self awareness and a richer collection of information to base decisions on,” she said.

A teaching portfolio describes one’s teaching successes in the same way that a C.V. documents one’s scholarship. Devanas reminded seminar participants that an effective teaching portfolio addresses more than what occurs in the classroom. Documenting activities such as advising, mentoring, community outreach, and development of innovative courses should not be overlooked when considering one’s teaching roles, both in terms of self-improvement and documentation for promotion and tenure, she said.

Devanas advocated an eight- to 10-page teaching portfolio that consists of a description of teaching responsibilities, a teaching philosophy statement, a narrative of supporting evidence, and an appendix of documents.

Supporting documents can include teaching awards, student course evaluations, peer evaluations, student products that illustrate learning outcomes, contributions to the scholarship on teaching, and documentation of participation in professional development activities, Devanas said.

If you missed the live 90-minute online seminar, “Teaching Portfolios: Improve Teaching and Personnel Decisions,” you can order the full-length CD for $189 and the transcript for $99 or save $49 and receive both for only $239. Please visit www.magnapubs.com/catalog/cds/598551-1.html.

Magna Publications (www.magnapubs.com) is a leading publisher of newsletters and other information products in the higher education segment. Magna also manages onsite and online conferences on topics of interest to higher education.

For more information, please contact David Burns, publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109 or dburns@magnapubs.com.