Carrie RodakGraduate Associate, Kaneb

Center

TEACHING PORTFOLIO DESIGN 1:

THE PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

NameDepartment & YearOne thing you like about teaching

INTRODUCTIONS

Workshop participants will be able toDescribe the purpose of teaching portfolios

Identify the main components of a teaching portfolio

Articulate components of their personal teaching philosophy

Write a draft of their teaching philosophy

WORKSHOP GOALS

A teaching portfolio documents your teaching expertise by outlining:Ideas / objectives that inform your teaching

Courses you teach or are prepared to teach

Methods you useYour effectiveness as a teacherHow you assess and improve your teaching

WHAT IS A TEACHING PORTFOLIO?

Preparing a teaching portfolio will help with:Academic job applicationsReflection and refinement of your teaching skills and philosophy

Future promotions

WHY CREATE A TEACHING PORTFOLIO?

There are two main components of a teaching portfolio.1.Teaching philosophy statement2.Evidence to support claims made in the teaching philosophy statement

MAIN COMPONENTS

A teaching philosophy statement is a concise statement primarily about:1.why you teach 2.your assumptions regarding teaching and learning

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Introduce yourself as teacherSet the stage for your teaching portfolioConsciously articulate a framework for your teaching

Take time for reflection and self-examination

Identify ways you can grow and improveProvide a writing sample

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT - PURPOSE

What are the main topics covered in the teaching philosophy?

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY EXAMPLE

A teaching philosophy statement is a concise statement about (for example): your objectives as a teacherthe methods you use to reach those objectiveshow you will measure your success in attaining those objectives why is teaching important to youcourses you are willing/qualified to teachgoals for your career

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT - CONTENT

The philosophy statement is about you, not the abstract topic of teaching

Student-centered statements are encouraged; teaching is ultimately about student learning

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Part 1a: Why do you want to teach in your discipline?

Part 1b: What do you see as your role in the classroom?

Part 2a: When you go into an undergraduate classroom to teach, what are your goals?

Part 3b: What are the goals of undergraduate education in your discipline?

Discuss 2-3 with a peer, modify/add

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE

#1:OBJECTIVES / GOALS

Based on the goals listed in Exercise #1 and any additional goals from the handout choose and rank your top 10-20 priorities for:Part 1: An introductory coursePart 2: An advanced course

Do the lists differ? How would you reach/evaluate these goals?

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE

#2:PRIORITIES

Choose an introductory course in your discipline you’d like to teachWrite a paragraph about your course goals (See Exercise #2) starting with:

“My favorite lower-level course to teach is…” “The lower level course I most look forward to teaching is…”

Read your paragraph, if appropriate rewrite using student-centered rather than teacher-centered statements

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE

#3:COURSES

Part 1: Choose an excellent teacher in your discipline. Describe to a peer what made that teacher excellent.

Part 2a: Make a list of characteristics you think of as good undergraduate-level teaching.

Part 2b: Identify the characteristics you want to adopt as your own

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE #4:

GREAT TEACHING

Write a synthesis of the above exercises, expressing your interest in and enthusiasm for teaching at the college level. Be sure to discuss your goals and include “students” as the focus of your teaching.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE #5:

SYNTHESIS

Some advice:Include anecdotesBe honestLimit the jargonEmphasize learningDescribe a strategy you want to exploreRemember your audience

See handouts with teaching metaphors and quotations if interested

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT EXERCISE #6: THE

DRAFT

This presentation is a compilation of the resources found from:C. Clark. Beginning a statement of teaching philosophy. The Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Notre Dame. Online workshop resources for ND faculty and students.L. Haugen (1998) Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement. Center for Teaching Excellence, Iowa State University.*H. Grundman (2006) Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement. Notices of the AMS, 1329-1333.B. Fisher. Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement The teaching Center, Washington University in St. Louis. Accessed Nov. 5 2012. http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/writing-teaching-philosophy-statementTeaching portfolios. Center for Teaching Vanderbilt University. Accessed Nov. 5 2012. http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-portfolios/

*Baseline reference for exercises

RESOURCES

THANK YOU!

Schedule a consultation with the Kaneb Center for Teaching and

Learning!kaneb@nd.edu or 631-9146