Teaching statements and teaching portfolios serve a variety of purposes. Instructors are commonly asked to submit these documents at pivotal moments in their careers: for the academic job market, annual reviews, teaching awards, and during the promotions and tenure process. In addition, the process of putting together a teaching portfolio can be intrinsically valuable for instructors, stimulating continuous reflection and growth and reconnecting them to the joy and value of teaching.
Although teaching statements and portfolios address many different audiences, and practices can vary between academic departments, following a few guidelines can help instructors communicate their values and goals, practices, and indicators of effectiveness. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore and discuss practices for documenting their teaching. University community members at any career stage or level of teaching experience are welcome to attend.
After attending the workshop, participants will be able to:
- describe the format and components of teaching statements and teaching portfolios
- structure a teaching statement around goals, methods and assessment
- identify general strategies for effectively documenting their teaching
- reflect on the story they want to tell about their teaching
Presentation Files
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation for the above materials or for inquiries about accessibility, contact drakeinstitute@osu.edu.
Individual Support at Ohio State
Consultation and Feedback
- For feedback on your teaching statement or portfolio, or to discuss any aspect of your teaching, email drakeinstitute@osu.edu
- Faculty members who have questions about teaching statements for promotion and tenure are encouraged to consult their tenure initiating unit (TIU) head, chair of the P&T committee, chair of the committee of the eligible faculty, the procedures oversight designee (POD) or the Office of Faculty Affairs within the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).
Ohio State Guidance and Policies
Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA)
Faculty Annual Review and P&T
More on Teaching Statements and Teaching Portfolios
- The Drake Institute’s article on Teaching Portfolio Development provides suggestions and examples for developing a teaching portfolio and drafting a philosophy of teaching statement.
- You can also find guidance on statement and portfolio development from a variety of teaching and learning centers at other institutions or at websites for instructors in higher ed (e.g., The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed)
- Exploring your Teaching Philosophy: Sample Exercises by University of Waterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence
- Teaching Philosophy & Statements by the University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning & Teaching
- Four Steps to a Memorable Teaching Philosophy, The Chronicle of Higher Education
More on Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)
Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) serve a variety of purposes in the classroom. In addition to providing feedback on instruction, they can provide instructors with information about what and how students are learning, engage students in opportunities to retrieve or practice course content, and engage students in reflection on their learning. The following resources contain a wide variety of CATs that can easily be adapted for use in a wide variety of disciplines.
- Drake Institute’s page on Classroom Assessment Techniques
- Classroom Assessment Techniques (available through OSU libraries)
- Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. https://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b1656672
- Writing to Learn booklet from OSU's Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing
Learning Opportunities
- Foundations of Effective Learning Environments teaching endorsement offered through the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning
- Drake Institute Support for Graduate Students and Postdocs
- Upcoming Drake Institute workshops and events
- Drake Institute on-demand learning for educators