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NSW HSC Online Professional Development Node

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How are portfolios evaluated?

Wolf 1994, suggest that rather than using a point by point analysis of a portfolio it is better to use a more wholistic approach to portfolio evaluation. The portfolio is a coherent and integrated documentation of teaching and learning and needs ‘professional judgement’ in the evaluation process. Wolf 1994, goes on to suggest that the evaluation begins with the identifying the knowledge and skills that a teacher needs to possess. Wolf uses the American National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 1989, as a guideline.

These standards now need to be developed into criteria that can be used as a measure for the attainment of the standard.

Activity

By this stage you will have a working portfolio so you can now evaluate your own knowledge and performance.

Reread the requirements for the proficient NSW HSC teaching that you established.

Using your professional philosophy as a guide, write several criteria for each of these requirements so that these are able to provide a measure of attainment of the requirement in the portfolio. When attempting to do this ask yourself the following questions:

• What would demonstrate excellent attainment of this requirement?
• What would demonstrate average attainment of this requirement?
• What would demonstrate poor attainment of this requirement?

If you have been working with a collaborator or mentor discuss the evaluation of the portfolio and the criteria that you have written with them.

You might like at this stage to have another person who has not been involved in the portfolio development phase to assist you by providing a written evaluation of your portfolio based on the requirements and criteria that you provide.

Determining further staff development needs

You have now been through the process of developing a portfolio and have had many opportunities to reflect upon your teaching. During the process of developing the portfolio or following the evaluation of the portfolio you will have probably become aware of areas where additional staff development would be of assistance in the improvement of your teaching.

Activity

• Identify the areas in which you need to develop further. List these areas and then place them in an order of priority.
• Use the list and write a plan for personal learning and teaching improvement.
• If you have been working with a colleague or mentor you might like to discuss this list with them.
• Identify staff development courses, seminars and so forth that may be of assistance in the process of learning and teaching improvement.