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TWT Portfolio Process

Mon, 01/07/2008 - 12:18 — TWT Program Coo...

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You'll develop a portfolio over a period of time. Review the suggested phases to help frame your very personalized process.

This Page

  1. Before You Begin
  2. Portfolio Phase 1 - Learn about Web-Based Teaching Portfolios
  3. Portfolio Phase 2 – Plan Your Portfolio
  4. Portfolio Phase 3 – Put it Together

Before You Begin

Before you begin to create your portfolio, review the Portfolio Requirements and Training Options to see what materials you need to gather for your portfolio. Depending on where you are in your technology skills and teaching, it could take several semesters to complete all the activities.

The phases below are meant to help you organize your examples, then post them on your Web site.

Portfolio Phase 1 – Learn about Web-Based Teaching Portfolios

Like more traditional artistic or writing portfolios, a teaching portfolio allows an instructor to pull together the best examples of his or her teaching craft and provide reflection on the process and what was learned from the experience.

Here are some examples to help explain the concept.

Past TWT Porfolios

Look at some web-based portfolios from different disciplined and different strategies. These examples will provide the concept and stimulate thoughts about a TWT portfolio.

TWT portfolios by Penn State graduate instructors

Additional Portfolio Links

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Portfolio Phase 2 – Plan Your Portfolio

A. Write Your Philosophy

As you write your philosophy for using technology with teaching, consider your professional goals, your content, and how they relate to your "teaching style."

Read suggestions for development of a teaching with technology philosophy for more ideas or review past TWT portfolios for additional ideas.

B. Select Technologies for Examples

Use the category examples in the suggested rubric as a guide for tools to select.

There are a variety of technologies that can be incorporated into a classroom including message boards, links to online resources, quizzes, surveys, multimedia and course managment tools.

You can also use the Technology Training page and Easy to Use Tools page for a list of suggested tools and uses.

C. Organize Examples

Once you have an idea of what content will be in your portfolio, it is recommended that you develop an outline, diagram or flowchart of how you wish to organize your online portfolio.

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Phase 3 Portfolio – Put It Together

This is the stage where your create and post your Web Pages. Here are some guidelines for how to put a portfolio together. See the Web Skills page for a list of how to learn to create Web pages. Remember that portfolios are due Two weeks before the final written theses.

A. Gather Graphics & Media

  1. Determine which screen captures, photos or images you will be using in your portfolio and convert them to GIF, JPEG or PNG format. See the Multimedia Skills page for links to instructions.
  2. If you have a Powerpoint file, it is recommended that you take a screen capture of a key page for the Web, and provide a link to the file.
  3. If you have digital audio or other multimedia file, make sure it is in a Web friendly format.

B. Convert Text Files

  1. It is recommended that Word files one page or less be converted to HTML if possible. This will eliminate the need for users to download a separate file to read your content.

C. Create Template Page

The next step is to determine what design and navigation you want your pages to have. Below are some guidelines for choosing color, fonts, and organizing links. Hint: Do your home page separately from other pages - it may be the most different.

Below are some links to pages on Web page design.

D. Post & Test Your Pages

Make sure you activate your Penn State Personal Web Space or use another space and post your files online. For Penn State Personal Web Space, see A Guide for Penn State Web Developers for more details.

E. Test Your Pages

Before finalizing your portfolio make sure:

  1. Pages appear for the URL you will send out.
  2. All the portfolio requirements are represented.
  3. All links work, all images appear and all files download.
  4. The pages work in more than one browser (e.g. Firefox and Internet Explorer).
  5. Check for spelling and grammar errors.
  6. Make sure your teaching philosophy statement reflects your examples.
  7. Contact the TWT Coordinator to ask for a critique!
  8. Ask a friend to look it over.

F. Contact Your Department

Contact your Departmental TWT Representative to have your portfolio formally reviewed for a certificate.

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