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Teacher Education

Professional Portfolio

Exploring Teaching EDU 221

Instructor Mary C. Belknap

A professional teaching portfolio is a visual tool to display personal qualities, strengths and skills. In Michigan, most educational employers expect a potential employee-teacher to have a career portfolio. A portfolio is a continual work in progress. In EDU 221, you will begin your portfolio As you progress in your educational/life experiences, you are encouraged to update and redefine your portfolio contents. Most four-year universities granting teaching degrees expect a completed portfolio as part of their education program requirements.

A recommended textbook is: How to Develop a Professional Portfolio - 2nd Edition by Campbell. This portfolio text is based on National Teacher Certification Guidelines. Use this text as a reference!

It is recommended that your portfolio be presented in a binder with a clear front pocket for your designed cover page.

  • It should be neat, organized, typed, with correct grammar and mechanics.
  • Each artifact should be carefully selected and adequately explained. Most reviewers are interested in the most pertinent information about your abilities. See Pg. 14 in above text for further information.
  • Consider carefully, content, organization, creativity, originality, and easy-to- read presentation format.
  • The portfolio should meet course requirements and criteria.

Mechanics

  • Portfolio in recommended format (binder, dividers, plastic covers, etc)
  • Consistent word processing: margins, format, page numbers etc.
  • Section and titles clear. All artifacts/explanations should be titled
  • All pages maintain uniformity
  • All typo errors and grammar errors corrected
  • Each artifact should explain the item/evidence, rationale, competencies and skills used

Sample portfolio materials and artifacts are available in the Education Resource Room located in Walker Hall #204 on the main campus of JCC.

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