The researcher analyzed data from two online cohorts of preservice teachers at a liberal arts university. The researcher conducted a correlational analysis to determine if the quantity of video analysis conducted during the educator preparation program predicted performance on the national Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). The…

As states across the country continue their implementation of the Teacher Performance Assessment Portfolio (edTPA), a complex and high-stakes certification requirement for teacher certification, there are important lessons for educators and education advocates to learn from New York State's implementation. As Linda Darling-Hammond, developer and…

Two groups of student teachers, one school-based and one university-based, were introduced to portfolio construction. School-based students received more guidance in and time for portfolio construction. Surveys and interviews indicated that the extra time and guidance helped school-based students, who benefited more from portfolios than…

Teachers' merit pay and students' grades depend on valid evaluations and are functions of many factors besides the quality of work being evaluated. If individual merit cannot be validly determined as a basis for rewards, then there is not a fair system of merit rewards for teachers and students. (SM)

Introduces an issue devoted to teaching portfolios in teacher education. The articles present initial research and reflections on the use of portfolios and share lessons learned through practice. They address such issues as the purposes of portfolios in teacher education; portfolio organization, management, and evaluation; and strengths and…

Presents an overview of teaching portfolios in teacher education, defining and describing the strengths and limitations of three portfolio models (the learning portfolio, the assessment portfolio, and the employment portfolio). The article emphasizes that portfolios can serve a variety of purposes and take many forms and notes the relationship…

Examines elementary literature instruction in Stanford University's Teacher Assessment Project (TAP). TAP candidates carried out exercises assessing their classroom instructional abilities. A study used data from the exercises to discuss best practice in teaching literature, noting that certain exercises were amenable to professional growth and…

Surveys of teacher educators in 24 teacher education programs nationwide examined their use of teaching portfolios with preservice teachers. The educators provided documents, assignments, and guidelines used in connection with portfolios. Results showed that they recognized the positive impact, but not the full value, of portfolios. Portfolio use…

Examined tensions arising from the use of portfolios for inquiry into personal practice during preservice teacher professional development and as a means of evaluation in their licensure. Student and faculty interviews, portfolio meetings, and program review documents indicated that efforts to combine the dual purposes of portfolios did not always…

Examines how reflection has been discussed in teacher education, presenting data from a longitudinal study of 10 teacher apprentices that investigated the experience of becoming reflective through a portfolio process and identifying developmental elements of reflection. The study notes that student teachers consistently report little formal…

Describes how portfolios enrich teaching and learning for elementary credential students at one California university, explaining the context for teaching portfolios, functions of the teaching portfolios, the process of constructing portfolios, how the university uses portfolios, and future directions for the program's portfolio use. (SM)

Research indicates faculty and preservice teachers rank abstract foundations of education courses lowest in contribution and interest level, whereas concrete courses receive high rankings. The paper recommends eliminating student evaluation of faculty and implementing a system of external review of faculty teaching competence and scholarly…

Suggests that conversations about portfolio entries offer the best opportunity to grow, learn, and enhance teaching expertise as teachers develop from beginners to experts. Portfolios have emerged as an alternative form of assessment well-suited for formative and summative assessment of self and others and for elevating the dialog about teaching…

Summarizes two trends in teacher education: using performance-based portfolios for assessment, instruction, and professional development and transforming computers from complicated instruments to universally available tools that facilitate tasks involving knowledge access and processing. The article explores connections between the two trends and…

Reports the essential findings of one phase of the assessment studies conducted during the California New Teacher Project, suggesting some implications from that study for the impending reform efforts. The paper concludes that California lacks a coherent, rigorous system of assessments guided by a clearly defined set of performance expectations.…