The most significant administrators who may not necessarily be included in the previous category are the department head and the college dean. In their supervisory capacity, these administrators are generally well suited to make summary statements about overall performance over time. In so doing, they can help those who will read and interpret the portfolio by organizing and assimilating all the other information from various sources. It is also appropriate that these individuals identify and draw attention to special recognition for teaching such as a university-wide or departmental teaching award or other honor. Thus they are an essential part of the teaching portfolio.
Faculty members can provide their own persepective on virtually every aspect of instruction.
Consequently, these documents will more easily reflect development than those from other sources. Self-reports should also be compared with data from other sources. Because feedback that provides new information is most likely to produce change, it is by virtue of such comparisons that personal growth and improvement occurs. Anderson, Erin, ed. AAHE Teaching Initiative.