In this "best practices" presentation, I discussed how the digital teacher portfolio is an example of reflective practices in education.

1. The Teaching Portfolio
Best Reflective Practices
By Doug Strahler

2. Overview
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What is a teaching portfolio?
What is reflective practice?
Why have a teaching portfolio?
What should portfolios demonstrate?
Electronic teaching portfolios
Sample Teaching Portfolios

3. How many of you have a teaching
portfolio?
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Please put up a green check if you do

4. Definition of a Teaching Portfolio
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“A teaching portfolio is a coherent set of materials,
including work samples and reflective commentary on
them, complied by a faculty member to inquire into and
represent his or her teaching practice as related to
student learning and development”
Center for Teaching Excellence, Duquesne University, n.d.

5. What is a Teaching Portfolio?
Process
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Reflection
Narrative
Analysis
Goals
Revisions
Mentoring (Collaboration)
Improvement
Zubizarreta, 1995
Product
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Evidence-based
Selective Information
Representative Data
Appendix Materials
Assessment/Evaluation

6. What is reflection?
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“Reflection occurs when learners look back on their
performance in a situation and compare their
performance with some set of standards or with other
performances, such as their own previous performances
and those of experts”
Collins & Halverson, 2009

7. Critical Component: Reflection Process
Reflection as a whole
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection

8. David Kolb’s Learning Cycle
The University of Iowa Center for Teaching, n.d.

9. Three Forms of Reflection
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2.
3.
Reflection on your process
Comparison of your performance with the
performance of experts
Comparison of your performance with a set of criteria
for evaluating performance
Collins & Halverson, 2009

10. What should portfolios include?
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Information from oneself
Information from others
Products or outcomes of student learning

11. Duquesne University Center for
Teaching Excellence
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The Teaching Portfolio
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Statement of teaching philosophy
Student evaluation summary
A curriculum vitae
A list of post-secondary courses taught
Sample course materials
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Syllabi
Assignments and Grading Guide
Student Paper with Comments (with statement of student permission)
Lesson Plan
Exam or quiz
Description of semester-long project
Course website excerpts

12. Duquesne University Center for
Teaching Excellence
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The Teaching Portfolio (cont.)
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List of professional interactions about teaching
Documentation of classroom observation by a faculty member
Writing Reflections on Teaching Materials

13. What should portfolios demonstrate?
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Responsibilities
Philosophy
Methodologies
Materials
Student ratings
Peer reviews
Efforts to improve teaching
Goals

14. Electronic Portfolios
Traditional Portfolio
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Collecting
Selecting
Reflecting
Projecting
Celebrating
Barrett, 2005
Technology allows
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Archiving
Linking/Thinking
Storytelling
Collaborating
Publishing

15. Technology Tools for Reflection
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Blogs (Reflective journal)
Wikis (Collaborative Web Pages)
Multimedia (Digital stories & Podcasts)
Interactive micro-blogging (Twitter)
Social Networking
Barrett & Richter, n.d.

16. Sample Teaching Portfolio

17. Final remarks
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This is not a one-time collection of documents, but a
process that will continue over time
Reflect & Revise (Add/Subtract/Edit)
Demonstrates growth & development
Become a reflective practitioner

18. References
Barrett, H. C. (2005). Researching Electronic Portfolios and Learner Engagement [White
paper]. Retrieved from http://www.taskstream.com/reflect/whitepaper.pdf
Barrett, H. C., & Richter, J. (n.d.). Technology Tools for Reflection. Retrieved from
http://sites.google.com/site/reflection4learning/technology-tools-for-reflection
Center for Teaching Excellence, Duquesne University (n.d.). The Teaching Portfolio.
Retrieved from http://www.duq.edu/cte/academic-careers/teaching-portfolio.cfm
Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology. New
York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Harvard University Office of Career Services. (2010). Teaching Portfolios. Retrieved
from http://bokcenter.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?
keyword=k1985&pageid=icb.page29708
The University of Iowa Center for Teaching (n.d.). David Kolb’s Learning Cycle.
Retrieved from http://centeach.uiowa.edu/documents/DavidKolb.pdf
Zubizarreta, J. (1995). The Teaching Portfolio: Reflective Practice for Improvement and
Assessment of Teaching [White paper]. Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net/WSSU_CETL/tp-workshop-handout-1