Guide to Improved Performanceand Promotion/Tenure Decisions

Write a statement of teaching philosophy. Articulating your values about teaching helps you choose the best pieces of evidence to support those values. For example, if your teaching philosophy highlights the importance of collaborative learning, find an assignment or project that showcases how you use this approach.
Begin to organize student evaluations. Find and read over past student evaluations. See if you notice any trends. In what areas have you improved and how? See Presenting and Reflecting on Student Evaluations for more ideas.
Find sample materials. Review syllabi, assignments, lesson plans, and classroom materials, and choose those which represent your best work. Begin drafting 2-3 paragraph reflective essays on each of these topics. See Writing Reflections on Teaching Materials .
Schedule a classroom observation by a faculty member. Have the faculty member write a letter describing the observation.

How should it be formatted?

All teaching portfolios should have a table of contents. This is your central organizing document and it should be clear and concise. After that, there is great variability in how the portfolio is organized. No matter what order you choose for your documents, the American Association of Higher Education recommends that a portfolio be structured, representative and selective.

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  It should follow a logical format and be easy for readers to follow.
  
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  Formatting should be clear and consistent. Use continuous pagination and/or use tabs and dividers. Nothing turns a reader off more than a document that is disorganized and tedious to read.
  
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  It should offer the best snap-shot of your teaching practices. Include materials that best exemplify your teaching philosophy.
  
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  It should be honest. Try to represent yourself as accurately as possible. Refrain from padding, but highlight the positives. If you include negative evaluations, show how you have used this feedback to improve your teaching, and include subsequent positive evaluations.
  
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  It should be limited. Most people will start out with a much more comprehensive portfolio than is necessary, and much of the work will be pruning it down to the best examples of your work.
  
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  Seldin (1997) suggests that the portfolio be divided between the narrative components, placed first, and appendices with supporting materials. Other teachers might integrate the narrative components and supporting materials. Consider the pros and cons of each approach and use a format that makes sense with your materials.