Developing an academic portfolio - University of Technology ...

An Academic Portfolio is an organised record of your academic experiences, achievements and professional development. It consists of a collection of ... Skiptomaincontent Home Researchandteaching Learningandteaching Scholarshipandresearch Scholarshipoflearningandteaching Developinganacademicportfolio Scholarshipandresearch Scholarshipoflearningandteaching Reflectiononteaching Peerreviewofteaching Developinganacademicportfolio Projectsandresources LearningandTeachingEvents Scholarshipandresearch Scholarshipoflearningandteaching Reflectiononteaching Peerreviewofteaching Developinganacademicportfolio Projectsandresources LearningandTeachingEvents Developinganacademicportfolio Aportfoliosupportsyouinyourroleasanacademicbycreatinga recordofyourreflection,developmentandachievementsovertime.Youmayliketouseaspectsofyourportfolio toprovideevidenceforformalprobationreview,progressionorpromotionprocesses.  Whatisanacademicportfolioandwhatshoulditinclude? AnAcademicPortfolioisanorganisedrecordofyouracademicexperiences,achievementsandprofessionaldevelopment.Itconsistsofacollectionofdocumentswhichillustratethevarietyandqualityofworkthatyoudo,alongwithyourreflectionsonthesedocumentsandonyourdevelopmentovertime.  Therearethreemajorareasofacademicworkthatyoushouldincludeinyourportfolio: teachingandeducationaldevelopment scholarshipandtheadvancementofknowledgeanditsapplications contributionstotheuniversityandthecommunity. Youshouldincludesomeevidenceofyourparticipationandreflectionineachoftheseareas,althoughatanypointinyouracademiccareeryourworkislikelytohaveagreaterfocusonsomeareasthanonothers.IfyourappointmentisatlevelB(lecturer)orhigher,youwouldconsiderafourthaspect,thatofleadershipwithintheuniversity.Aswellasincludingtheseareasofacademicwork,trytoincludeanoverviewsectionwhereyoureflectonandreviewyouractivitiesinrelationtoyouroverallgoalsandcareerplans. TheseguidelinessuggestwaysthatyoucandevelopyourPortfoliotoencompassthemajorareasofacademicpractice.Eachacademic'sexperienceandcontextwillbedifferent,sothereisnoexpectationthatallPortfolioswillbesimilar.Rathertheyshouldcontainevidenceofindividualacademicachievementsandexperiences,withreflectionsontheseexperiences. GettingStarted Developingaportfolioisanongoingprocess.Asyourportfoliodevelopsovertime,youwillincludedocumentswhichprovideevidenceofawiderangeofactivitiesandachievements,alongwithyour reflections onthesedocuments.Gettingstartedmeansbeginningtocreateaframeworkandsectionsforyourportfoliowhichyoufindusefulandcancontinuetouse,thenaddingoneortwoitemsatatimeasyouengagewithdifferentaspectsofyourwork.  Trytoaddtoyourdocumentsandreflectionsonaregularbasis,bothtoassistyourprofessionaldevelopmentandsothatyourportfoliowillbeuptodateforoccasionswhenyoudiscussyouracademicprogresswithyoursupervisororareplanninganapplicationforpromotion. Example1:Alison'sportfolio AlisonisanewAssociateLecturerwhoseimmediategoalsincludelearningtoteacheffectivelyintutorialsandlectures,andcommencingaPhD.Thisiswhatherportfoliocontainsbytheendofherfirstsession:Overviewandpersonalinformation Astatementofgoalsthatshenegotiatedwithhersupervisor AcopyofherCV Acareertimelinewhichshedidduringacareerplanningworkshop. Teaching Abriefdescriptionofhowsheseesherroleasateacherinlecturesandtutorials Anoutlineofthesubjectsheco-ordinateswithnotesonchangesfornexttime Ahandoutandlearningguidefromaworkshoponteachingintutorialswhereshereflectedonhowtoencouragemorestudentinteractioninhertutorials Asummaryofstudentresponsestoanopen-endedquestionnaireabouthertutorials,withhercommentsaboutactionstotake. Scholarshipandresearch AseriesofnotesaboutapossibletopicforherPhDproposal AnapplicationforSchoolconferencefunding,whichincludesastatementabouttherelevanceoftheconferencetoherresearchdevelopment. Servicetotheuniversityandthecommunity AcopyofherresponsetoanemailfromtheHeadofSchoolaskingforsuggestionsforimprovingtheSchool'sorientationfornewstudents. Example2:Dimitri'sportfolio DimitriisanewLecturerwhohascometoUTSaftertwoyearsasanacademicinanotheruniversity.Hisgoalsaretobuildhisresearchandpublicationprofileandfurtherdevelophisteachingwiththeaimofapplyingforpromotionwithinthreeyears.Someofthesupportingevidencehecollectsinhisportfoliointhefirstsessionincludes:Overviewandpersonalinformation Astatementofthegoalshenegotiatedwithhisacademicsupervisor Acareeranddevelopmentplanthathenegotiatedwithhismentor CopiesofhisfullCVandshortCVsforgrantapplications. Teachingandeducationaldevelopment Subjectoutlinesandsummariesofstudentfeedbackonthesubjectheco-ordinates,withnotesonthechangesheintendstomaketothesubjectasaresult AcopyofhisStudentLearningmoduleassignmentwhichhedidaspartofthedevelopmentprogramfornewacademics HisresearchsupervisionjournalinwhichhenotesandreflectsonhismeetingswithhisnewPhDstudent Alistoftheteachingworkshopsandsupervisorforumsthatheattendedduringthesemester. Scholarshipandresearch Theabstractofajointpaperwithacolleaguewhichhasbeenacceptedforaconferenceattheendoftheyear Notesforaninternalresearchgrantapplicationthatheintendstosubmitlaterintheyear AninvitationtopresentaresearchseminaronhisrecentlycompletedPhDresearchatanotheruniversityinSydney Anupdatedpublicationslist Acopyofanemailfromajournalthankinghisforbeingareferee. Servicetotheuniversityandthecommunity AcopyofaFacultyguideforresearchstudentswhichhehelpedtoupdate Alistofhiscommitteeandprofessionalassociationmemberships. Academicleadership Anemailfromapart-timetutorthankinghisforhissupportinco-ordinatingthesubject. Theprivateandpublicfacesoftheportfolio Itisquitereasonabletokeepsomeaspectsoftheacademicportfolioprivate.Therearelikelytobesomereflectionsordocumentswhichareimportantforyourdevelopmentbutwhichyoudonotwishtoshowtoothers. Awelldevelopedacademicportfoliowouldbetoomuchtopresentforeitheryourdiscussionswithyouracademicsupervisororforapromotioncommittee.Itwouldbemoreappropriatetoincludeanextractwithdescriptionsofandreflectionsonyourmajorachievementsandreferencestootherdocumentation. Suggestedsectionsfortheportfolio Thefollowingguidelinesprovideadviceondevelopingdifferentsectionsofyourportfolio.Foreachofthethreemajorareasofacademicwork(teachingandeducationaldevelopment,scholarshipandtheadvancementofknowledgeanditsapplications,contributionstotheuniversityandthecommunity)wehaveincludedsomeadviceon: describingwhatthataspectofyourworkmeanstoyou,includingpossiblequestionsforreflection sourcesofevidenceyoucouldincludeindocumentingthataspectofyourwork questionsformakingaselfevaluationofyourachievementsanddevelopment. Theideasdescribedaresuggestions.Yourportfoliowillbeindividualandislikelytohavemoreemphasisinsomeareasthaninothers.Rememberthataneffectiveportfoliowillincludebothdocumentaryevidenceandreflection,eg.asubjectoutlinethatyouhavedevelopedwithareflectionontheeffectivenessoftheoutlineintermsofstudentlearningandthechangesyoumaymakeasaresult. Teachingandeducationaldevelopment Manyacademics,especiallythoseatAssociateLecturerandLecturerlevel,spendagreatdealoftimepreparingforteaching,teachingandassessingtheirstudents'learning.Wehopethatdevelopingthissectionoftheportfoliowillenableyoutoimproveyourpracticeasateacherthroughreflectionandselfevaluation. Imaginethatyouaretryingtogivesomeoneelseapictureofyourteaching-whatyoudoandwhyyoudoitthatway.Yourportfolioshouldcreateapicturethatillustratessomeofthecomplexityandvarietyofwhatyoudoandwhy.Atminimum,yourportfoliowouldincludeastatementoutliningyourownteachingphilosophy,andanoverviewofyourteachingexperience:therangeofsubjectsandclassesyouhavetaught,postgraduatesupervisionetc.Itwouldthenincludesomeitemsdocumentingdifferentaspectsofyourteaching. Whatteachingmeanstoyou Describeyourownunderstandingofteachingandthewayinwhichyouseetherelationshipbetweenteachingandlearning.InthiswayyouwillhavearecordofyourthoughtsonteachingandlearningasyoucommenceyourcareerasanacademicatUTS.Youwillbeabletoreturntoyourinitialideasfromtimetotimeandconsiderthedevelopmentandchangesthathaveoccurredasyouhavedevelopedyourexpertise.Thissectioncouldbeprivatetobeginwith,butlateryoumightdevelopadescriptionofyourteachingphilosophytoincludeintheportfolioextractthatyouwouldshowtoothers. Possiblequestionsforreflectionaboutteachingandeducationaldevlopment Whatareyouroverallteachinggoalsandthegoalsthatyouhaveforyourstudents'learning? Howdoesyourteachingencouragestudentlearning?Consideryoursubjectobjectives,teachingapproaches,learningtasksforstudents,assessmentandfeedback. Howdoyouknowwhetheryourteachinghasencouragedstudentlearning? Howconfidentandcomfortabledoyoufeelaboutyourteachingandwhathelpsyoutodevelopconfidence? Howhaveyourexperienceshelpedyoutodeveloporchangeyourunderstandingofteachingandlearning? Supportingevidence Examplesthatcouldbeusedtosupportorgiveevidenceforyourteachingovertimemayinclude: Aseriesofsubjectoutlinesforasubjectyouhavetaughtforseveralyears,withareflectiononwhyyoumadethechangesyoudid Areadinglistthatyougivetostudents,withreflectionsonhowstudentsrespondedtothereferenceschosen Casestudiesdevelopedfromyourclassroomexperiences.Thiscouldbeintheformofadescriptionoftheexperienceandthenareflectionabouttheexperiencefollowedbyrecommendationsforcontinueddevelopmentorchange,eg.anoutlineofalectureortutorial,withyourreflectiononwhythesessionwasconductedthatway,howitwentandanyproposedchanges Adescriptionofandreflectiononaninnovativeteachingapproach,whytheapproachwaschosen,whetheritachieveditsintentionsandanysuggestedchangesfornexttime Aninterviewwithastudentabouther/hisapproachtolearninginyourlectures,withyourreflectiononwhetherthismatchedyourexpectations Examplesofassessmenttasks,withyourreflectionontheappropriatenessofthosetasks Examplesofstudentwork,withyourfeedbackattached,andareflectiononyourresponsetothestudent'swork Apeerevaluationofateachingsession,withareflectiononyourresponse Studentevaluationsofthesubject,withareflectiononhowconsistenttheyarewithyourself-evaluationandwhatchangesyouhavemadeasaresult Descriptionofandreflectiononasupervisionsessionwithapostgraduatestudent,highlightingyourintentionsandcontribution,anddiscussingthisinrelationtoyourviewsonsupervision Excerptsfromagoodstudentproject,withareflectiononhowyouhelpedthestudenttodevelopideas Aflyerdescribingaworkshoponteachingyouattended,withareflectionontheimpactthishadonyourteaching. Questionsforselfevaluation Towhatextenthaveyourpersonalgoalsforteachingbeenmet? Howdoyouknowwhetheryouhavebeenteachingwell,andwhatevidencedoyouhaveofgoodteaching? Whatareyourmainachievementsinteachingandwhatevidencedoyouhaveforthese? Whatisyourprogresstowardsachievingtheteachinggoalsthatyouhavenegotiatedwithyoursupervisor? Whatsupporthaveyoureceivedtodevelopyourteachingandwhatwouldyouneedtodevelopfurtherasateacher? Scholarshipandtheadvancementofknowledgeanditsapplications Scholarshipcanbedefinedinseveralwaysaccordingtoyouracademiccontext.InUTSdocumentationsuchaspromotionguidelines,'scholarship'isdescribedasthedistillationandintegrationofknowledge.Scholarshipofthistypewouldbeexpectedinmostareasofacademicwork,includingteaching,research,consultancyandmanytypesofservicetothecommunity.Inreflectingonscholarship,youareencouragedtothinkabouthowyoukeepuptodateinyourfieldandcontinuetodistilandintegrateknowledge,bothinyourresearchandinyourteaching,bothintermsofcontentandprocess. 'Advancementofknowledge'includesactivitieswhichmightcommonlybereferredtoasresearch.TheAcademicPortfoliocouldbeusedtoenableyoutoreflectuponthenatureofresearchinyourdiscipline,theresearchprocessandhowyouseeyourselfasaresearcher.Itcouldenableyoutoreflectuponyourowndevelopmentasascholarand/orresearcherandprovideevidenceofresearchdevelopmentandcontribution. Whatscholarshipandtheadvancementofknowledgemeanstoyou Atthebeginningofthissectionitmightbeusefultodescribehowyouseescholarshipinyourdiscipline.Describewhatitmeanstodistilandintegrateknowledgeinyourdisciplinearea,whatsourcesofknowledgeareimportantandhowyouengageinscholarshipinthedifferentpartsofyourwork,includingyourteaching. Nowdescribewhat'advancementofknowledge'orresearchmeansinyourdiscipline,andhowthisrelatestoyourownresearchinterestsandyourdevelopmentasaresearcher.Insomedisciplines(egthephysicalsciences)describingwhatresearchmeansmightbefairlystraightforward,inothers(egdesignorproductionstudies)itmightbemoredifficulttodefineandincludeaspectssuchasoriginalcreativecontributions.Itmightbehelpfultotalktooneortwoseniorcolleaguesaboutthenatureofresearchinyourfieldandthenreflectontheirideas. Questionsforreflectionaboutscholarship Howdoyoukeepuptodateinyourdisciplinearea?Whatsourcesdoyouusetodothis? Inwhatwaysisyourworkscholarly? Howwouldyoudescribescholarshipinteaching,andhowdoyouapplyittoyourownteaching? Inwhatwaysdoyouenableyourstudentstoengagewithcurrentideasinyourdisciplinearea?Thiscouldincludethinkingabouthowyourelateyourresearchtoyourteaching.< Questionsforreflectionabouttheadvancementofknowledge Whatareyourpersonalresearchinterests? Whatareyourresearchgoalsorintentions? Howdoesyourresearchinterestsfitintotheinterestsofyouracademicdepartment? Inwhatwayscanyourresearchmakeacontributiontoyourdiscipline? Howdoyoufindoutaboutsourcesoffundingandresourceswhichcouldsupportyourresearch? Howhaveyourexperienceshelpedyoutodeveloporchangeyourunderstandingofresearchandscholarshipinyourdiscipline? Supportingevidence Areadinglogshowingthejournalsandotherpublicationswhichyoureadonaregularbasis NotesandreflectionsonresearchseminarsyouhaveattendedinyourSchool/Departmentordiscussionswithyourcolleagues Notesyouhavekeptintheprocessofworkingwithamentor,withyourreflectiononwhatyouarelearningfromtheprocess Copiesofcontributionsofascholarlykindmadetocomputerbasedresearchdiscussiongroupsorlistserves Anuptodatepublicationslist,withseparateheadingsforrefereedjournalarticles,bookchapters,conferencepapers,contributionstoothermaterialsetc,alongwithreflectionsonwhatyouseeasyourmostimportantpublications Copiesofreferees'reportsonyourwritingsandlettersofacceptancefromjournals Invitationstorefereepapersforjournalsinyourfield Copiesofpublicationswhichciteyourresearch Copiesofgrantapplications Invitationstopresentyourresearchatseminars. Questionsforselfevaluation Towhatextenthaveyourpersonalgoalsforscholarshipandtheadvancementofknowledgebeenmet? Whatevidencedoyouhavethatyouarecontributingtotheadvancementofknowledgeinyourfieldordevelopingthepotentialtodoso? Whatareyourmainachievementsinresearchandscholarshipandwhatevidencedoyouhaveforthese? Whatisyourprogresstowardsachievingtheresearchgoalsthatyouhavenegotiatedwithyoursupervisor? Whatsupporthaveyoureceivedtodevelopyourresearchandscholarshipandwhatwouldyouneedtodevelopfurtherasaresearcher? Contributionstotheuniversityandthecommunity Theuniversityexpectsallacademicstomakeongoingcontributionstotheuniversityandtotheroleoftheuniversityinthecommunity,atalevelappropriatefortheirlevelofappointment.Activitieswhichconstituteaminimumcontributiontotheuniversitywillgenerallybepartofyournormalduties.Thiswouldinvolvereliableperformanceofyouradministrativeresponsibilities,contributionstopolicydevelopmentatalevelappropriateforyourlevelofappointmentandforsomeacademicstheinitiationormaintenanceoflinksbetweentheUniversityandexternalgroups(seepromotionspolicies). Thenatureofothercontributionstotheuniversityandthecommunitycanvarymarkedlybetweenindividualacademicsaccordingtotheirinterests,abilities,disciplinearea,opportunitiesandlevelofappointment.ContributionstotheuniversityfromlevelAorBacademicscouldincludeactiveparticipationinFacultyoruniversitycommitteesorworkingparties,organisationormanagementofparticularfunctionsoreventsinyourFacultyortakingonarolesuchasAcademicLiaisonOfficer.Contributionstothecommunitycouldinclude:involvementinprofessionalsocietiesorcommunitygroupsrelevanttoyourdisciplinearea;organisationofpublicevents,exhibitions,forumsormeetings;membershipofpolicyadvisoryorexpertgroups. Someopportunitiestocontributeoccurfortuitouslybutothersmayneedtobeplannedfor,initiatedordeliberatelysought.Thisisanareawhereyoursupervisorshouldbeabletoassistyou,forexample,bysuggestingactivitiesappropriatetoyourexpertiseandinterests,suggestingyournameformembershipofcommitteesorbyreferringyoutocolleaguesorcontactswithintheuniversityorelsewhere. Includeastatementaboutthenatureofyourcontributionstotheuniversityandthecommunity. Itcouldbehelpfultodescribethecontributionswhichareexpectedofyouinyouracademicunit,andoutlineyourunderstandingofthekindsofcontributionswhicharemostcommonlymadeinyourdisciplinearea.Thendescribetheexpertiseandintereststhatyouhavewhichmightbemostrelevanttomakingfurtherscholarlycontributionstotheuniversityandcommunity. Questionsforreflectionaboutyourcontributions Whatadministrativeresponsibilitiesareexpectedinyourposition? Whatcontributionstotheuniversityareexpectedofacademicsatyourlevelinyouracademicunit? Howareyoudevelopingyourknowledgeandunderstandingoftheuniversitysothatyoucanidentifyopportunitiesformakingusefulcontributions? Whatopportunitiesmighttherebeforyoutomakeanactivescholarlycontributionoutsidetheuniversity? Supportingevidence Up-to-datelistsofmembershipsofcommitteesandprofessionalsocieties Adescriptionofaspecificcontributionyouhavemadetotheworkofacommitteeandreflectionsontheeffectsorimpactofyourcontribution Adescriptionofyourparticipationinworkinggroupswithareflectiononyourmaincontributions Copiesofpublicityorothermaterialsfromeventsthatyouhaveorganisedwithareflectiononyourcontribution Lettersofthanksforyourworkfromprofessionalbodiesorcommunitygroups Invitationstoaddresspublicmeetingsormakecontributions. Questionsforselfevaluation Whathavebeenyourmostimportantcontributionstotheuniversityandthecommunity,andwhatevidencedoyouhaveofthesecontributions? Howfarhasyourinvolvementreflectedyourintentionsandyouracademicunit'sexpectations? Howhasyourcontributionenhancedthequalityoftheuniversityorcommunity'swork? Whatisyourprogresstowardsachievingthegoalsthatyouhavenegotiatedwithyoursupervisor? Whatsupporthaveyoureceivedtodevelopyourcontributionsinthisareaandwhatwouldyouneedtodevelopyourcontributionsfurther? AcademicLeadership AcademicsatlevelsAandBarenotusuallyrequiredtoperformleadershiproles,howeveryoumayhaveopportunitiestodemonstrateleadershippotential,forexamplebytakingaleadingroleinateachingdevelopmentorresearchinitiative.PromotiontoSeniorLecturerrequiresthattheapplicantprovideindicationsofacapacityforacademicleadershipwithintheuniversityandpromotiontoAssociateProfessorrequiresthattheapplicantdemonstrateleadershipcapacity.Itwouldbewisetogivesomethoughttothedevelopmentofyourleadershipskillsandqualities,andtodocumentactivitieswhereyoubelieveyouhavedemonstratedacapacityforleadership. PersonalAcademicPlansandGoals Itmaybehelpfultoconsiderhowthe activities abovefitwithyourpersonalgoalsandplans,orwhatkindofpatterntheyshowwhenlookedattogether. Thisfinalsectionoftheportfoliocouldbeprivate,butyoumightwanttoshareaspectsofitindiscussionwithyoursupervisorormentor.Althoughthepromotion,tenureandprobationplanningprocessesincludeconsiderationofbroadgoals,therearesomeotherissuesthatcouldbeveryimportanttoassistyoutodevelopanongoingplanforthefuture. Questionsforreflection Whatgivesmethemostsatisfactionasanacademic? WhatcausesfrustrationandisthereanythingIcandoaboutit? WherewouldIreallyliketobeinmycareerinayear'stime,fiveyear'stime,tenyear'stime? DoIhaveanyparticulargoalsthatIwouldliketoachieve? HowconsistentiswhatIamdoingnowinmyworkwithmyanswerstotheabovequestions? Aremygoalsandcareerplansconsistentwiththegoalsnegotiatedwithmysupervisor,orshouldIconsidersomere-negotiation? Whocouldhelpmycareeratpresent? AcknowledgementofCountry UTSacknowledgestheGadigalpeopleoftheEoraNation,theBoorooberongalpeopleoftheDharugNation, theBidiagalpeopleandtheGamaygalpeople,uponwhoseancestrallandsouruniversitystands.Wewould alsoliketopayrespecttotheEldersbothpastandpresent,acknowledgingthemasthetraditional custodiansofknowledgefortheselands.