Introducing: The Electronic Portfolio
There are a lot of portfolios that you can come across. One of the
most important is the teaching portfolio. It documents different
aspects of your teaching skills, summarizing them for a job or
promotion, or molding them into a testament to your personal and
professional development.
Teaching usually entails a lot of experiences, thus it is best to
keep up with your career development and update a portfolio
continuously. Sooner or later too, you might need to reflect on your
teaching. The portfolio is a space for both these things.
With the advent of Information and Communication Technology,
teaching portfolios are no longer confined to binders. Electronic
portfolios are now a very practical and far-reaching option.
You can include scanned or digital photos, video and sound clips,
animations, recordings of students, text, drawings and testimonials.
Since teaching portfolios are designed to highlight your talents,
knowledge, principles and skills in teaching, go all out and do it as
creatively as possible!
An electronic assignment to create an electronic teaching portfolio goes like this:
- Ask yourself, “What am I trying to tell the reader about
myself?” This determines what you should include in the portfolio, from
a biographical sketch to a resume, to letters of commendation to
awards.
- Use a multimedia software program like Hyper
Studio or Netscape Composer. Prepare equipment such as scanners,
digital cameras and the materials to be included in your portfolio.
- Add
your photo, and a file copy of your resume. Also input a description of
the classes you’re teaching and your teaching style.
- Add documents, awards, licenses, tests, certificates, among others.
- Write an essay on your teaching philosophy, which is basically how you teach and why.
And voila! A basic teaching portfolio. The good thing about
electronic portfolios is that it can easily and effectively shared with
others, and it can be accessed for a long time. No more boxes,
scrapbooks and three-ring binders.
Here are some resources on developing electronic portfolios.
Dr. Helen Barrett on Electronic Portfolio Development
Teaching Portfolios - Carnegie Foundation - teaching examples
Student Portfolios - Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Create Your Own Electronic Portfolio
Kalamazoo College Portfolio
Multimedia Enhancements
The Professional Portfolio
Electronic Portfolios: A New Idea in Assessment
Digital Portfolio: A Richer Picture of Student Performance – with case studies
The Multimedia Report: Electronic Portfolios Tell a Personal Story
Creating Electronic Portfolios with HyperStudio
Multimedia Electronic Portfolios
Teaching Portfolios - articles on contents and approaches
Constructing a Web-based Teaching Portfolio
Selling Yourself – step-by-step guide in building portfolio
Electronic Portfolio Resources
Digital Portfolios
Online Portfolio Links
Google Teaching Portfolio Links
Sample electronic teaching portfolios
Software links
Sources:
“Developing a teaching portfolio.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://ftad.osu.edu/portfolio/
“Electronic Portfolios: Students, Teachers, and Life Long Learners.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic82.htm
Spencer, Lisa. “Creating an electronic portfolio.” Retrieved April 29, 2009 from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/fellows/Spencer/webquest/lasindex.html
(Published 11 May 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
