The Portfolio Community of Practice

About Us

Given the variety of approaches, practices and strategies involved, how can we document effective teaching? One possibility is the development of a course portfolio to demonstrate your teaching, and the student learning that results, in a particular course. A course portfolio makes visible the intellectual work of teaching. Another possibility for providing evidence of achievement in teaching is the teaching portfolio. The teaching portfolio is a documented statement of an instructor’s teaching philosophy, responsibilities, goals and accomplishments as a teacher.

Teaching portfolios and course portfolios serve creative forms of summarizing and developing stronger teaching. Both types of portfolio development contribute to good teaching by encouraging self-reflection and stimulating self-analysis.

If you are seeking a way to document your teaching achievement – for the purposes of hiring, promotion and tenure or for your own self-development – we invite you to join the Portfolio Community.

This community is open to anyone who has developed or is interested in developing a course and/or teaching portfolio, whether on paper or in an electronic format. Seminars and resources are offered in response to expressed needs and interests of the community members; individualized assistance is also available. Though we do not hold regular meetings, Members of the Community of Practice are invited to share ideas, examples, resources and information about learning opportunities related to portfolios.