It was useful for tenure and for learning about one s teaching. Yes, if they are up for tenure. Otherwise, yes, if the scope is limited, and the audience and purpose are clearly defined. Working with the Hewlett Coordinator was also extremely useful. The teaching portfolio provides greater depth with respect to philosophy and pedagogy.
Much more thought goes into the issue of self-reflection with a portfolio.
It encourages faculty to experiment with different teaching procedures and assess them. The advantages included a detailed understanding of the colleague s teaching techniques from lesson plans to self-evaluation. There were no disadvantages for me. The advantages were the ability to provide a comprehensive outline of important teaching issues. The disadvantage was the amount of time required for the candidate to prepare the document.