HATESL Professional Development Brownbag

5/02/02

Technology and Teaching Portfolios

Introduction

In today’s brownbag, I will talk about possible uses of technology in the development of a teaching portfolio. After briefly highlighting the elements of a complete teaching portfolio, I will discuss different possible types of portfolios. Next, I will focus on electronic portfolios, stressing the advantages of web-based portfolios that integrate current web design technology.

Portfolio Elements

Cover letter
Updated resume
Statement of teaching philosophy: include theory and examples of activities
Work samples: videotaped classes, syllabi, tests, original materials, student work
Evaluations from supervisors and students
Letters of recommendation
Awards and certificates
Pictures of classroom activities

(from Wolfe-Quintero, K. & Brown, JD. 1998. Teacher Portfolios. TESOL Journal, winter. 24-27)

Portfolio Types

Paper-based with videotape

Pluses: easiest to produce, most accessible

Minuses: costly to mail, bulky, timing, may be difficult to read through material

Floppy-based with videotape

Pluses: easy to produce, cheaper to mail, accessible

Minuses: can store only 1.44 kb on a disk

CD-based

Pluses: cheap to mail, somewhat easy to produce, inexpensive

Minuses: requires cd burner, storage limitations, requires cd reader, less

accessible

DVD-based

Pluses: cheap to mail, somewhat easy to produce, large storage capacity

Minuses: requires dvd burner, more expensive to produce, requires dvd reader, more inaccessible

Web-based

Pluses: cheapest (free?) to produce, free to send, most user-friendly, fully integrated, technologically advanced, anyone can see it

Minuses: requires more time to produce, requires web connection on both ends

Electronic Possibilities

Disc-based portfolio

Web-based portfolio

Conventional web technology

- Dreamweaver/ Front Page

- Audio and video players

Advanced web technology

- Flash

Integration

Examples of Technology

http://flashkit.com

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~sford

http://www.bobthebuilder.org

Making your own Electronic Portfolio

1. Develop the elements of your portfolio: SLTCC Portfolio Workshops

2. Check out different web site designs to get ideas for your site

3. Secure free web space: UH Unix, Roadrunner, Apple, etc.

For site development, plan 10-30 hours from start to finish, depending on goals
Download trial versions of software, depending on your design, or
Use computer lab computers with software already installed
Take tutorials for downloaded software
Build your pages
Upload your material to your web site

Conclusion

In the modern, electronic world we now live in, the teaching profession should take full advantage of current trends in technology. By considering the advantages of electronic portfolios, teachers can better present themselves to prospective employers while becoming familiar with the latest, cutting-edge computer technology.

Sample Items for a Teacher Portfolio

1. cover letter (perhaps reflecting on the purposes and organization of the portfolio)

2. updated resume (briefly presenting all pertinent facts relevant to teaching background and qualifications), including lists of

conference presentations (including actual handouts from selected presentations)

published articles (along with copies of selected articles)

3. statement of your teaching philosophy, including discussions of

the theoretical underpinnings of your belief system and how your belief system affects decisions such as materials selection, teaching strategies, and classroom management

a description of what you actually do in the classroom, why doing things that way benefits your students, and how you know when teaching strategies are working well

4. samples of your work, including

a videotaped class (including supporting documents)
syllabi (with an explanation of how you created them)
tests (with a discussion of how you do assessment and grading)
students’ work (with comments on their relationship to your teaching)
your feedback (including a statement of how you give feedback)
original materials (with an explanation of the purpose of these materials)

5. selected comments from evaluations or observations of your teaching (along with an explanation of how you interpret these evaluations), including

evaluations from students
observations by colleagues
observations or evaluations from supervisors

6. other items

· letters of recommendation

· thank-you letters from students or colleagues

· awards or certificates

· pictures of classroom activities

· whatever else best represents your professional abilities and accomplishments

(from Wolfe-Quintero, K. & Brown, JD. 1998. Teacher Portfolios. TESOL Journal, winter. 24-27)

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