Rather they are selected samples that illustrate how that individual's teaching is carried out in the various venues in which teaching occurs. Portfolios provide documented evidence of teaching that is connected to the specifics and contexts of what is being taught. They go beyond exclusive reliance on student ratings because they include a range of evidence from a variety of sources such as syllabi, samples of student work, self-reflections, reports on classroom research, and faculty development efforts. In the process of selecting and organizing their portfolio material, faculty think hard about their teaching, a practice which is likely to lead to improvement in practice. In deciding what should go into a portfolio and how it should be evaluated, institutions necessarily must address the question of what is effective teaching and what standards should drive campus teaching practice.
Portfolios are a step toward a more public, professional view of teaching.
They reflect teaching as a scholarly activity. Clarify teaching responsibilities . Start with an understanding of the role the professor is expected to play in the department with regard to its various functions. This will help the professor determine what kinds of specifics need to be documented. Select items for the Portfolio .