Loyola University Chicago

The portfolio is one of many items that the School of Education uses to assess your growth and competence as a developing teacher. Successful completion and presentation of the showcase portfolio is a Loyola requirement for certification approval.

You compile one portfolio which represents your work in the entire program.

Members of the teacher education faculty will evaluate the portfolio and its presentation in order to grant approval for certification. Criteria for evaluation are outlined in the portfolio rubrics.

You should have at least one artifact to document each of the eight categories developed from the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. Possible artifacts for each standard are listed on the rubric.

An artifact is a product chosen to document a standard. For example, Standard 2 could be addressed with a thematic unit you taught during a methods class. Before each artifact in your portfolio, you should have a reflective piece. Keep in mind that the artifacts should be documents that lend themselves not just to representations of the standard and your best work, but your ability to reflect on the practice of teaching and learning.

No, each item can only be included once. However, you may break down a thematic unit you developed, using an assessment as one artifact, and then use the unit as a whole to demonstrate your ability to organize subject matter and instruction well.

The reflective piece, in 1-3 pages, should briefly explain what the artifact is, why it is evidence of that standard, and how the artifact relates to the candidate's current experience and how it relates to the candidate's future teaching experience.

Dr. L. Dee Fink of the University of Oklahoma carefully distinguishes between substantive writing and reflective writing:

"In general, substantive writing refers to writing that is focused on a topic and attempts to present information and ideas the writer has about that topic. The familiar practice of assigning term papers and essays has been used for centuries to engage students in substantive writing. Reflective writing on the other hand, focuses on the writer's experience itself and attempts to identify the significance and meaning of a given learning experience, primarily for the writer him/herself."

Reflective writing's value is in its ability to help the candidate become more self-conscious of his or her own learning. It can often validate the candidate's experience but it also has the power to transform the candidate's practice. This thinking and reflection should be the bulk of your reflective pieces. Your reflective pieces should include phrases such as "I now see," "I came to understand," "I could have," "I learned," "Next time I."

This should be a final statement about how you are a product of Loyola's School of Education. You should address the conceptual framework (see your student teaching handbook) in the following areas: knowledge, skills, service and ethics. This should be 1-3 pages in length.

No. The showcase portfolio represents your work in the School of Education program, both its theory and practice. It reflects your progress in teacher education and your growth as related to program goals and standards. Coupled with this, your showcase portfolio will demonstrate your willingness to reflect on the practice of teaching, a necessary component of professional growth.

Your job portfolio will be similar to your showcase portfolio, but its focus will be on your teaching. While you will still include reflective pieces in your job portfolio, you should be well prepared to speak about your teaching. It is unlikely that interviewers will have the time to read your entire job portfolio.

Important note: As you compile your showcase portfolio, keep in mind the phrase "less is more." Your portfolio should be a clear and concise representation of your work. While creativity can be helpful, be mindful that unnecessary material can make your portfolio appear unprofessional and unorganized.