Building a Professional Portfolio

Life After AmeriCorps TrainingMay 11, 2012

Purpose

TEACHERS: Many school districts require probationary teachers to develop a portfolio before being recommended for tenure.

Shows your content knowledge and expertise in a field in a quick snapshot.

Makes you stand out from other applicants to a job.

What is a Portfolio?

Purpose is to collect evidence that demonstrates your effective work (classroom, school, District, field)

Analyzes progress over the year(s) Records and tracks your professional

development experiences and how they effect your work

A working document

What is a Portfolio? (cont.)

Demonstrates your skills. Meaningful collections of artifacts

based on a set of professional growth goals.

A timeline for sampling work & reflection statements.

TWO MAIN PARTS: Evidence & Reflection

Reflect on your career path:

Help you articulate your professional goals and the work you have been doing to achieve them.

to record your professional accomplishments.

to help you have materials ready for a job search.

Pursue a specific job:

Organize goals and experience prior to an interview.

Communicate your professional experience and accomplishments to a potential employer.

Expand on your one-page resume by providing a fuller, richer portrayal of your abilities and experience.

Portfolio Organization

Portfolios may be either hardcopy or electronic.

Each year, you should have a professional development goal.

Select artifacts that demonstrate how this professional development goal has impacted your work.

Develop goals and plans for future professional growth.

What goes into a professional portfolio?

Statement of professional goals and philosophy Resume or Curriculum Vitae Narrative description of experiences you want to highlight; for

example:› Academic Work› Research› Teaching› Leadership› Service› Publications› Conference Participation› Work Experience and Skills› Performance Reviews› Recognition and Awards

Appendices:› Annotated materials and examples to illustrate or elaborate on your statement

of goals, philosophy, and the experiences referred to in your narrative description

A NOTE For the purposes of this

demonstration, we will focus on a teacher’s portfolio.

WHY?› Closest to the work you

have been doing.› May be altered to fit into

any desired profession.

Portfolio OrganizationSection I

Content Knowledge1. How have you increased capacity to determine

which instructional techniques are most appropriate for building students’ understanding of varying forms of content?

2. What aspects of content knowledge continue to shift and evolve, and how have you worked to keep pace with these changes?

3. How do you work to enhance your knowledge of content related to curricula prior to and beyond the grade level of the students you serve?

Content Knowledge

Possible Artifacts/Exemplars:› Evidence of ongoing professional

development and continuing education.› Involvement in Professional Organizations.› Professional and academic publications.› Excerpts from classroom observation

reports.› AmeriCorps Director and/or Site Supervisor

Progress Reports.

Portfolio OrganizationSection II

Preparation1. Describe the process you utilize to plan or map

out your curriculum or academic interventions.2. What process do you use to ensure appropriate

differentiation of instruction during your planning process? What data do you use to make these decisions?

3. What strategies have you found most effective for establishing a rationale for how your students best learn? What strategies do you find most effective for implementing lesson plans with your students?

Preparation

Possible Artifacts/Exemplars:› Sample standards-based unit of study› Excerpts from classroom observation

report› Sample of student work as outcome of

your teaching

Portfolio OrganizationSection III

Instructional Delivery1. Consider the instructional strategies you have

found to be consistently effective in increasing student involvement in discussions, linking learning with prior knowledge, and fostering engagement.

2. Consider instructional methods you have experimented with and chosen to discard. What data, observations, and other indicators led you to discontinue those methods?

3. Describe an example lesson plan which initially failed to meet your anticipated goals, but succeeded after you revised it.

Instructional Delivery

Possible Artifacts/Exemplars:› Lesson Plans/Unit Plans› Samples of student work› Video of instructional delivery› Photographs of student-centered

instructional process

Portfolio OrganizationSection IV

Classroom Management1. What systems have you established to provide

smooth and efficient transitions in your classroom or after school program?

2. Describe how you monitor student behavior and respond to student misbehavior in an appropriate manner.

3. Describe your process for establishing effective routines and systems for handling materials and supplies.

Classroom Management

Possible Artifacts/Exemplars:› Classroom procedures and expectations.› Management contracts.› Parent communications.› Videos of you in action.

Other Sections

Student Development Student Assessment Collaboration Reflective and Responsive Practice Record Keeping and Communication Teacher Professionalism

Tips for Portfolio Development

Start as early as possible Work collaboratively with supervisors in

building your portfolio to make it part of your annual review process. You can work with your supervisor to focus on your goals and objectives for each year and discuss how you are reaching your goals.

Tips (cont.)

Building your portfolio should be an integral part of your professional growth. It should help you and your supervisor focus on your strengths and areas for growth and development.

It should be a powerful tool for self-reflection and development.

Tips

Make it RELEVANT:› Include your goals› Make sure it’s tied to criteria for evaluating

effective teachers› Include supportive examples of student

work and performance that reflect those criteria.

Tips

Organize your portfolio› Clearly labeled sections.› Professional and high quality.› If you can incorporate technology it will

make you that give you an added edge over competition.

HOW to Get Started???

Develop the practice of collecting materials that represent your skills and achievements.

Know your audience: Study job announcements and learn what professionals in your field value when hiring.

Select an organizing principle that best reflects your work; for example, chronological, functional, or thematic

SAMPLE SITES:

Association of American Geographers:http://www.aag.org/Careers/UW/Profportfolios.html

Colorado State:http://www.biz.colostate.edu/career/portfolio.htm

Florida State:http://www.career.fsu.edu/ccis/guides/port.html

Michigan State:http://www.csp.msu.edu/cdc/explore/proport.htm

Northwestern University:http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/STUDENTS/job-skills/portfolio.htm

RLS Career Center:http://www.rlscareercenter.org/portfolio.htm

Digital Portfolios

www.professionalportfolio.net

Sample #1

•What do you think about this ePortfolio?

•Is it appropriate for the career goals of this person?

•What would you change about it?

Sample #2

•What do you think about this ePortfolio?

•Is it appropriate for the career goals of this person?

•What would you change about it?

Sample #3

•What do you think about this ePortfolio?

•Is it appropriate for the career goals of this person?

•What would you change about it?

Sample #4

•What do you think about this ePortfolio?

•Is it appropriate for the career goals of this person?

•What would you change about it?

Now it’s your turn!