Teaching Materials for the Academic Job Search

Job Ad Jargon Statement of Teaching Philosophy, Statement of Teaching Interests, Teaching Statement Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness, Teaching Portfolio

Resources Delta Program at UW-Madison – – Especially see Events>Workshops>workshop materials for each workshop Coppola, B. (2002). Journal of College Science Teaching, 31 (7),

Statement of Teaching Philosophy What is it? What questions should I address? What does it look like? How do I write it?

What is it? What questions do I address? A statement of your views on teaching and learning addressing: How does learning happen? What are your goals for your students? How do you teach? Describe your classroom. How do you assess student learning? Show reflection/growth of your teaching Examples are a key part of the statement!

What does it look like? 1-2 pages long Title/name Quote if desired (optional) Thesis statement Narrative (focus on a few key points that you are sincere about with examples) Teaching at X University (address job ad courses) Summary/Reflection

How do I write it? Reflect on your experiences as a teacher AND as a student Reflect on your favorite teachers in the past, what did you like about them? Read teaching statements (see Delta website) Share, get comments, and REVISE! Personal with examples is better than theoretical Know your audience Don’t disparage other methods of teaching!

Teaching Portfolios What is it? Why should I prepare it? What does it look like? How do I get started? What is an “artifact” or “evidence of effectiveness?”

What is it? A collection of documents reflecting your views and experiences in teaching and learning Contains reflective statements and evidence/artifacts Designed with a purpose/target

Why should you prepare it? Some jobs require it for application – mostly teaching heavy positions Pre-tenure, tenure, and post-tenure review processes Helps you improve your teaching

What does it look like? Packet of materials that may include some or all of these documents: – (Philosophy of education – what is learning?) – Statement of teaching philosophy – (Outline of learning goals) – (Relation of your goals to your teaching style) – Documentation and analysis of student learning and teaching effectiveness

How do I get started? Start by writing your teaching philosophy – this portfolio should be a way to further support that document Consider what qualities and skills you will highlight: – Intellectual skills (teaching approaches, innovation & research, knowledge base) – Motivational skills (what experiences reflect your motivation & how do you motivate students) – Interpersonal skills (how do you relate to your students)

Evidence & Artifacts Evidence of students’ learning – copies of student work (with permission), syntheses of learning outcomes data Documentation of professional development – workshops, observation of your teaching, course development, student feedback Student evaluations – keep copies, write a summary, include student comments Best items include: products of good teaching, materials developed, and assessment by others

Assembling the Portfolio Each artifact/evidence should have an accompanying reflective statement explaining it and how it reflects your teaching Make it pretty – consistent formatting, spend time on graphics Can be digital or hard copy - consider a website as an option

Example Portfolios