EDEL 189: Portfolio Development & the Reflective Practitioner

Fall 2002

Course Description & Rationale

In accordance with the Accountability Standard in the Standards for Vermont Educators, the faculty of the Elementary Education Program incorporates the construction of a professional portfolio into their professional education requirements. The goal of constructing the professional portfolio is to develop candidates' critical reflectivity of their practice as educators. Portfolio development is an act of construction and synthesis in which candidates connect personal, professional, and program experiences and learning in a conception or vision of themselves as professional educators. It is a vision of oneself as a teacher capable of teaching all children strategically in diverse classrooms - the theme and goal of the Elementary Education Program.

Objectives

A. To construct a professional portfolio that:

• is coherent and thematic,
• utilizes artifacts from program participation,
• explains one's learning through holistic reflections, and reflections on individual artifacts
• is accountable to program and state criteria.

B. To develop familiarity with Vermont Level 1 Licensure Criteria and UVM Elementary Education Program Criteria

C. To develop the pre-service teacher's capacity to utilize an electronic medium, specifically, to develop their capacity to reflect on their practice using digital video technology.

Course Projects & Grading