Faculty of health Sciences: Learning and Teaching Directorate
Training session 2: Teaching Portfolio Development
On 26 February 2025, the Faculty of Health Sciences, Learning and Teaching Directorate hosted a dynamic workshop at the Missionvale campus, focused on developing captivating teaching portfolios. Facilitated in collaboration with LTCollab, this comprehensive session emphasized the portfolio's vital role in career progression and professional growth. The programme guided academics in articulating clear teaching philosophies, showcasing learning and teaching development, and demonstrating academic citizenship. Through practical examples and engaging discussions, participants explored the three essential criteria for a successful portfolio, gaining a platform to address challenges and effectively portray their scholarly teaching.
The programme covered a variety of issues, such as the importance of having a clear teaching philosophy and aspects relating to learning and teaching development as well as academic citizenship. The three criteria important for teaching portfolio were explained and practical examples were explored.
Participants engaged with material used during the session. Including:
1. The power point presentation
2. The Nelson Mandela University Teaching Portfolio Guide
3. The criteria and corresponding indicator checklist, including the three vital criteria to be included in portfolios. The criteria include:
i) Criterion 1: Demonstrates expertise in approaches to curriculum development and learning design, teaching and learning facilitation, and assessment that motivates and inspires students to learn, become independent learners, and enhance their development.
ii) Criterion 2: Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing development with regard to disciplinary expertise, learning and teaching, and/or learning enhancement and the holistic development of students.
iii) Criterion 3: Demonstrates leadership and a scholarly approach that enhances teaching, learning and student success, which has a broader impact within Nelson Mandela University and beyond.
i) “Yes, it was a very fruitful session. I learnt a lot.”
ii) “The session was able to position me into the University context. I did not understand the importance of a Teaching portfolio- now I’m equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge.”
i) “The framework that was presented- all different sections and what could be included in each area.”
ii) “The practical application on each section very useful as well as sharing examples.”
i) “For future sessions, I would suggest adding to go through the template together and discuss structure of document holistically.”
ii) “The workshop be broken up across multiple days and each day focusses on one part. Then attendees can work on that section and get individual feedback as they draft it. This will help one to become unstuck but also have a working document at the end of the workshop to refine.”