Portfolio Analysis
My portfolio is not only a collection of the work I have completed this semester, but also a reflection of my professional growth as an educator. As I experienced the role of the teacher first hand, I was able to better understand and confirm my teaching philosophy. One may think they know what they would do if they were a teacher, but such ideas change the moment you stand before a class of students. In addition to a change in teaching philosophy, my experience at Trenton Central High School also allowed me to see strengths and flaws in my unit plan, which were then altered and reflected upon. Furthermore, as a teacher I realize I am not only being viewed by the students, but simultaneously observing the dynamics within the classroom. Such observations served as the basis of my analytical research paper. Unlike other courses in which assigned work is not always work that can be put to use, the work which can be found in this portfolio was assigned as a tool for becoming more aware of the role and responsibilities of a teacher.
I tried to keep the format of my electronic portfolio as simple as possible. The front page contains the links to the individual components of the portfolio, including the links to access my personal information, unit plan, video clip, teaching philosophy, analytical paper, and interviews. When the unit plan and interview links are selected, the reader is brought to a page from which additional selections can be made by choosing a second link. For instance, after selecting the interview link off the main page, a second page opens containing the links to three separate interviews. Furthermore, the selection of the unit from the main page allows readers to select links to the unit rational, overview, curriculum standards, calendar, reflection, evaluations, and bibliography.
Several of those secondary unit pages also contain links to more information, such as the unit calendar, which leads viewers to individual lesson plans. Within each lesson plan are additional links to the lesson’s corresponding worksheets. Each assignment and quiz also contains a link to the answer key. Every page accessed within the unit has a link at the bottom of the page in order for viewers to return to the day’s lesson or unit calendar. Similar links are provided to take viewers back to the main page from many of the portfolio pages. Hopefully, the viewers of my portfolio will have little difficulty navigating through the pages and will appreciate the amount of work I put into each component of the portfolio during the semester.