Welcome to my Teaching Portfolio
Welcome to my teaching portfolio. I am an Assistant Professor of Biology at Washington Adventist University*. My interests include immunology, microbiology, and developmental biology, where I can join my students in learning about the workings of cells. I also enjoy learning how to use new technologies in the classroom. My hobbies include reading and gardening.
As a teacher, my focus is often on the day-to-day activities and deadlines. My teaching portfolio, however, presents an opportunity to focus on my long-term professional goals and development. It provides a forum for my reflection on, and evaluation of, my professional activities and skills.
As an on-going documentation and assessment activity, my portfolio is constantly changing. This dynamic process reflects the fluidity of a science classroom in the 21st century in which new information and technologies are continually being integrated into the existing body of knowledge and skills for both students and teachers. As I continue my professional growth and development in this ever-changing environment, this portfolio will provide a medium for documentation of my professional skills, while also integrating reflection on, and evaluation of, my teaching skills.
My teaching portfolio is organized around the National Science Education Standards (http://www.nap.edu/html/nses/3.html). In each section, I have included artifacts (items) that demonstrate how I have incorporated the teaching standard into the classroom. Artifacts are preceded by a reflection section in which I describe the artifact, and then analyze and appraise its effectiveness both in the classroom and in demonstrating my proficiency with the teaching standards. I then describe how the artifact has transformed my teaching, and what changes I will make, or have made, in response to the use of the teaching artifact. As some artifacts are themselves reflections, they do not have a separate reflection section.
As you browse the documents in my teaching portfolio, please feel free to contact me with any suggestions, questions, or comments.