Supporting continuous improvement in teaching development through electronic teaching portfolios

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Research and Development in Higher Education Vol. 31: Engaging Communities

July, 2008, 389 pages
Published by
Mark Barrow & Kathryn Sutherland
ISBN
0 908557 73 6
Abstract 

This article makes the proposal of facilitating continuous improvement in teaching development in higher education through hosting an electronic portfolio system at a professional organisation for higher education. To support this proposal the need for continuous teaching development and the strengths of the portfolio approach and of electronic portfolio systems are discussed. The suggestion of hosting the electronic portfolio system at a professional organisation is based on the ideas of the professional community that reaches beyond institutional boundaries and of the separation of professional and employment spheres. Addressing the current climate of imbalance in the recognition of achievements in research and teaching the responsibilities of institutions and the individual academics in higher education are addressed. A scenario is provided, suggesting a concrete e-portfolio system, called Mahara, to be hosted by the professional organisation HERDSA.

Keywords: teaching portfolios, electronic portfolios, professional development