What is a professional development portfolio?
A portfolio is a
selection of materials which illustrate your professional growth as a
teacher. It is a work in progress and helps you to identify, focus and reflect
on areas of interest to you as a teacher. What goes into it is your decision.
You choose what you feel best represents your knowledge, skills, achievements
and expertise. It enables you to plan, review and assess your professional
development. You decide how you will use it and whether it is for your eyes
alone, or whether you will share it with colleagues, mentors or supervisors.
Why should I have a professional development
portfolio?
People working in the creative arts build up portfolios to
showcase their work and demonstrate how their creativity has evolved throughout
their careers. These portfolios help to secure work, commissions, exhibitions
etc. So too can teachers display exemplars of their work over time and
demonstrate their growth as professionals. Teachers' portfolios may be used to
help in applying for jobs, or as part of a formal school evaluation process, but
there are intrinsic benefits too:
- Helps you to plan your development
- Facilitates reflective practice
- Provides a framework for lifelong learning
- Enhances teaching
- Has a positive impact on your learners
- Helps keep you motivated
- Provides a system for recording and documenting key points of your work
- Gives you a platform for exploring teaching
- Helps you to develop your English language skills
- Helps you to identify where you can go for the support you need
- Provides a basis for review
