1. Developing a Teaching Portfolio
Teaching - Learning and Research Collaboration Week
Nomakhaya Mashiyi
Faculty Teaching Learning Specialist
22 May 2015

2. Presentation Outline Purpose of a teaching portfolio
Writing a teaching philosophy statement
Components of a teaching portfolio
UWC requirements for developing a Teaching Portfolio, S-Plan
Selecting evidence for inclusion in your teaching portfolio

3. What is a Teaching Portfolio?
“ a description of a professor’s major strengths and teaching achievements. It describes documents and materials which collectively suggest the scope and quality of a professor’s teaching performance” (Seldin 1997:2).
‘an organised collection of evidence of a teacher’s best work that is selective, reflective and collaborative” (Gelfer, Xu & Perkins, 2004 :128)

4. Cont… A reflective document which:
highlights what you have currently achieved, reflects on your own teaching, areas of further growth, - shows how you have been able to establish a context that encourages good teaching.

5. Cont…
A reflective activity that helps clarify your goals, underscores your development as an educator, highlights areas for further growth, showcases your best work, vision and sense of yourself . (

6. Guiding Principles Audience and Content Purpose & Style of writing
Context (institutional, profession, discipline, students, and how these impact upon your teaching);
Institutional requirements e.g. UWC Guide for Teaching Portfolio Development,
Integrity and creativity
Less is more

7. Purposes of Teaching Portfolios
Probationary purposes;
Self-reflection and summative assessment of your teaching performance;
Accreditation;
Personal promotion (mastery, marketing tool?);
T-L Awards; (demonstrate excellence)
Programme and institutional reviews

8. Components of a Teaching Portfolio
Reflective / Teaching Philosophy Statement (1-2 pgs, frames the whole portfolio)
Statement of Teaching Responsibilities
Supporting Documents (provide evidence for the claims in the philosophy statement)
Statement of teaching goals for the future (contains ideas for future action)
(Eberly Centre for Teaching Excellence)

9. Cont… Autobiography, reflective journal extract
Select items for the portfolio/ evidence
Prepare statements on each item
Arrange the items in order
Compile the support data
Revise and share data with others
Incorporate the portfolio into your CV (AEC)

10. What is a Teaching Philosophy Statement?
‘This statement of reflection is a philosophical framework of your personal approach to teaching, rationale behind what guides your practice i.e. what impacts on you as an educator and how it influences your teaching….’ (O. Farrell…1999)

11. What Should a Teaching Portfolio Statement Achieve?
Provide evidence of your sincerely-held beliefs
Codify your thinking at a particular time.
Examine your teaching practices
Monitor your development as a teacher (Farrell 1999 pg. 1).

12. Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement
Conceptualisation of teaching, learning, goals for students, implementation of the teaching philosophy, professional growth plan (Schism 1998);
Integration of responsibilities, expertise, professional relationships, creating a supportive learning environment, methods, strategies and innovations, outcomes (Goodyear & Allchin 1998)

13. Cont… Why do you teach? Why do you teach your specific subject?
What are your goals as a teacher?
What do you want your students to learn from your classes?
Which approaches to learning do you encourage and why?

14. Cont… How do you address diversity in the classroom?
What particular challenges do your students face?
How do you use technology in your teaching?

15. Cont… List relevant references from the literature;
Cross reference any statements you make with documentary evidence and literature citations

16. Activity Draft and revise your teaching philosophy statement.
Develop criteria for evaluating teaching philosophy statements.
Evaluate exemplars of teaching philosophy statements using the criteria you have developed.

17. UWC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPILING A TEACHING PORTFOLIO
1st
5th
9th
2nd
3rd
7th
4th
6th
8th
Image from:
Your students- who are they and what are their learning needs?
What is your teaching philosophy? What informs it ?
Curriculum design and development
Assessment - how do you know that your planned learning goals for students are being met?
Contribution and participation in institutional T&L activities
Scholarship - what scholarly works have informed your teaching?
Professionalization - teaching & learning workshops presented or attended.
Infusion of technologies
Evaluation of teaching & learning

18. Choosing Items for the Portfolio
Material from oneself;
Material from others (collaborative POT);
The products of good teaching (student publications & conference presentations);
Self –evaluation of teaching-related activities;
Journal editing/ reviewing articles
Examples of graded essays (Seldin, 1993)

19. Activity
Portfolios MUST be evidence-based. What evidence would you provide in your Teaching Portfolio, and why?
Refer to the questions in the document entitled ‘ Teaching Portfolio at UWC’.

20. Activity
Portfolios MUST be evidence-based. What evidence would you provide in your Teaching Portfolio, and why?
Refer to the questions in the document entitled ‘ Teaching Portfolio at UWC’. HODs, SL, etc. to work together in groups.

21. Use the Portfolio to Improve Teaching
Faculty /department members reflect on their own classroom practices and how to improve it;
Collaboration and mentorship >>Community of Practice
Promote a vibrant culture of teaching-learning

22. References Gelfer, Xu, and Perkins, 2004 Goodyear & Alchin (1998)
Schism (1998)
Seldin, Peter (1997)
O. Farrel, (1999)