DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS - POWERFUL TOOLS FOR DEMONSTRATING TEACHERS` PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
As the demand for authentic, standards-based assessment of teacher performance continues to grow, teachers will need to develop new strategies for recording and presenting evidence of successful teaching. While the notion of using portfolios as an assessment tool in professional education programs is not new, in Romania teachers are just beginning to explore the advantages of digital formats for these assessment tools.
This article explores the use of the digital portfolio to promote reflection by practitioners and suggests strategies that can be employed by teachers to maximize the benefits of these constructivist tools for learning, reflection, and assessment.
Appropriately used, a digital portfolio is far more than an electronic collection of course projects, assignments, and teaching memorabilia. A thoughtfully developed portfolio provides organized, standards-driven documentation of professional development and competency in teaching. When anchored in professional teaching standards, the digital teaching portfolio becomes a highly meaningful and effective way to demonstrate to others the knowledge, skills, and dispositions gained in mastering the complex art and science of teaching.
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