Getting Started on Your
Teaching Portfolio
2013 Future Faculty Teaching Fellows Summer Institute
Julie Saam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Assistant Dean
School of Education
Indiana University Kokomo
Useful websites to browse:
Creating a Teaching Portfolio
Washington University in St. Louis
http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/Programs
forGraduateStudentsandPostdocs/resources/Page
s/Creating-a-Teaching-Portfolio.aspx
Teaching Portfolios
Vanderbilt University
http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/teachingguides/reflecting/teaching-portfolios/
What is a teaching portfolio?
A teaching portfolio is a
goal-driven collection of
materials that document
one’s teaching performance
over time. They serve to
highlight one’s teaching
strengths and
accomplishments.
Why do we need one?
Job Applications
Award Dossiers
Fellowship Dossiers
Annual Reports
3rd Year Reviews
Tenure Dossiers
Documentation in a Portfolio
Unlike an artist’s portfolio, a
Teaching Portfolio must display
work indirectly, through
description, documents, and
various forms of evidence.
You know how to do this! Use
your research skills!
What should you collect for
your portfolio?
Brainstorm with the person sitting
next to you regarding possible items
to collect for portfolio inclusion.
Categories of Evidence include:
Vita
Teaching Assignments
Curriculum Development
Student Evaluations
Professional/Peer Evaluations
Professional Development
Teaching Materials
Scholarship on Teaching and Learning
Student Interactions
Professional Service
Community Service
Keep your CV
updated

Keep a list of the
courses you teach…
include the number of students

Curriculum
Development
How have you altered your
curriculum each
semester/year?
What evidence did you base
the changes?

Student
Evaluations

End of course evaluations are usually
required and some are standardized.
Do not let that deter you from allowing
students to evaluate you and the course
at varying times in the semester or
allowing students to evaluate specific
components of the course curriculum or
instruction.
Professional
Evaluations

Get someone to conduct a
peer review of your
teaching. Include
assessment of materials &
classroom observation.
Professional
Development
Workshops, seminars, etc.
attended
Getting Started on a
Teaching Portfolio

Teaching
Materials…
Sample syllabi, handouts
Course/program
development materials

Organize by course.
Presentations, Research,
and Publications on
Teaching
Internal/External
Organize or Present in a Teaching Session
at Professional Meeting
• Seek to publish teaching materials in
teaching outlets
•

https://facet.indiana.edu/publications/journals.shtml
(http://www.iuk.edu/academics/ctla/sotl/index.shtml )
Student
Interactions
Academic Counseling,
Mentoring, Out-of-class
contacts, etc.

Professional
Service
Professional Organization
Teaching Committees
Review for Teaching Journals

Community Service
Have you taught others (besides
college students) something
about your field?

Start Collecting Now!
Start a file system (electronic or paper) to
place relevant items according to the
different categories of evidence.
Self-Analysis
Teaching Philosophy and
reflections
Everything else in the
portfolio should tie into this
statement.
What is it that I do well?
Outstanding Lectures?
Facilitate Discussions?
Encourage Critical Thinking?
Mentor Students?
Use Technology to Promote
Learning?
Connecting Evidence to
Self-analysis
Sometimes the analysis framework is developed
by the author of the portfolio…
3rd Year Review
…and sometimes it is directed by the evaluation
team of the portfolio
FACET dossier
Trustees Teaching Award
Claude Rich Teaching Award
Some DON’Ts
DON'T throw all of your course materials into a
file box (or 3 ring binders) and call it a portfolio
DON'T include all of your teaching materials—it
will be too cumbersome, even if it is organized
DON’T try to make your portfolio look like
someone else’s—it is an individualized product
DON’T try to construct a portfolio in a weekend—
the teaching portfolio is a long-term dynamic
process
.
Some DO’s
DO be succinct in your writing and selective of
the documents
DO use your portfolio to develop, reflect upon,
and improve your teaching.
DO remember that evidence does not speak for
itself. No matter how vast or impressive, the
content of your portfolio needs interpretation.
DO remember to integrate the elements of the
portfolio to your teaching philosophy
A good instructor borrows
ideas from others…
Don’t be afraid to look at other
instructors’ portfolios or to talk
to others about teaching.