1. Teaching Portfolio Design 1: The philosophy Statement
Carrie Rodak
Graduate Associate, Kaneb Center

2. Introductions
Name
Department & Year
One thing you like about teaching

3. Workshop goals Workshop participants will be able to
Describe 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

4. What is a Teaching Portfolio?
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 use
Your effectiveness as a teacher
How you assess and improve your teaching

5. Why create a teaching portfolio?
Preparing a teaching portfolio will help with:
Academic job applications
Reflection and refinement of your teaching skills and philosophy
Future promotions

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

7. Teaching Philosophy Statement
A teaching philosophy statement is a concise statement primarily about:
why you teach
your assumptions regarding teaching and learning

8. Teaching philosophy statement - purpose
Introduce yourself as teacher
Set the stage for your teaching portfolio
Consciously articulate a framework for your teaching
Take time for reflection and self-examination
Identify ways you can grow and improve
Provide a writing sample

9. Teaching philosophy Example
What are the main topics covered in the teaching philosophy?

10. Teaching Philosophy Statement - content
A teaching philosophy statement is a concise statement about (for example):
your objectives as a teacher
the methods you use to reach those objectives
how you will measure your success in attaining those objectives
why is teaching important to you
courses you are willing/qualified to teach
goals for your career

11. Teaching Philosophy Statement
The philosophy statement is about you, not the abstract topic of teaching
Student-centered statements are encouraged; teaching is ultimately about student learning

12. Teaching Philosophy Statement Exercise #1:Objectives / Goals
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

13. Teaching Philosophy Statement Exercise #2:Priorities
Based on the goals listed in Exercise #1 and any additional goals from the handout choose and rank your top priorities for:
Part 1: An introductory course
Part 2: An advanced course
Do the lists differ? How would you reach/evaluate these goals?

14. Teaching Philosophy Statement Exercise #3:courses
Choose an introductory course in your discipline you’d like to teach
Write 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

15. Teaching philosophy statement exercise #4: Great teaching
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

16. Teaching philosophy statement exercise #5: Synthesis
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.

17. Teaching philosophy statement exercise #6: The draft
Some advice:
Include anecdotes
Be honest
Limit the jargon
Emphasize learning
Describe a strategy you want to explore
Remember your audience
See handouts with teaching metaphors and quotations if interested

18. Resources
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,
B. Fisher. Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement The teaching Center, Washington University in St. Louis. Accessed Nov
Teaching portfolios. Center for Teaching Vanderbilt University. Accessed Nov
*Baseline reference for exercises

19. Thank you! Schedule a consultation with the Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning! or