Professional development teacher portfolios

• create a “story” demonstrating your professional practice,
• promote learning and development,
• encourage self-assessment and reflection, and
• document professional growth of teachers.

According to a study on the use of portfolios, 92 per cent of respondents stated that portfolios have a positive impact on their teachers. This impact occurs in five ways:

• Promote reflection: portfolios encourage teachers to reflect and think about their work in deeper more thoughtful ways than in the past.
• Facilitate learning: portfolios are self-empowering tools that encourage teachers to assume more responsibility for their learning. Teachers who use portfolios are more knowledgeable about issues related to the complexities of teaching … and about understanding that learning is an ongoing process.
• Assist in job search: portfolios provide teachers the opportunity to prepare and practise for the interview process.
• Improve teaching practice: portfolios facilitate goal planning when completing yearly individual professional growth plans.
• Improved teaching occurs when the stated goals are actualized into daily classroom practice.