Running head: ADVICE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS 1

Reflection on Portfolio Process and Advice for Future Students

Brittany Vellutini

National University
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Abstract

This paper details the process for creating a Professional Development Portfolio, advice for

future students, and how I was able to successfully navigate my way throughout the course. The

paper also looks at the significance of creating a timeline for yourself to hold yourself

accountable. Throughout the paper I also reflect on how to digest the language used in the

outline and syllabus of the class. Three important things that you should be doing during the

course are talked about and the importance of looking at other students’ PDQPs is also

addressed.
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When beginning the process of creating a PDQP it is extremely easy to get overwhelmed

with all of the language used throughout the TED 690 course outline and syllabus. Throughout

the time in the class you should be doing three things: selecting appropriate artifacts for the TPE

domains, preparing rationales using your text or an article, and reviewing the work you chose to

make sure that it is the best representation of yourself possible. Another vital thing to have is a

completion timeline.

Creating a timeline for myself based on each week was the most useful thing for me

when doing this course. I knew that I wanted to do all initial Blackboard posts on Wednesdays

and Thursdays and then I wanted all of my responses completed by Friday. Having when I

wanted the assignments done written down on a piece of paper and then crossing them off once

they were submitted was an effective way of keeping myself accountable. It’s easy to get

overwhelmed when you look at the class and its work as a whole but dividing it up into weeks

makes it seem more accomplishable. Much like the amount of work for the course, looking at

your own work that you have to choose from can also be overwhelming. For this I would

recommend looking at your classmates’ PDQPs for inspiration. Seeing what others are doing

can help you make choices that positively reflect you and your teaching throughout your PDQP.

Janelle Cox stated in an article that throughout the student teaching and searching for a job

process, you have accumulated important artifacts along the way and these are a great way to

showcase achievements and classroom experiences in a professional, organized manner.

When looking at the course outline and syllabus the language can sometimes be

confusing. For example, “literature review” does not mean a review of an article or the text; it

means provide a rationale for why you chose the artifacts that you chose and use an article or the

text to support you. As Janelle Cox said in an article on TeachHub, “creating your portfolio is an
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ongoing process; as you gain more experience you will continually update the items to show

your best qualities and achievements”. This can even be put into practice during your time in the

class. If after you’ve submit a domain, but you find an artifact that you feel better suits the

domain, update your PDQP. I found the easiest way to create the PDQP to be a free blog site, I

used Weebly. The sites are easier to edit and manage than a PowerPoint version of your PDQP

and are easier to share with classmates, which especially comes in handy during the collaborate

session.

PDQPs and all that can and should be included within them can be overwhelming from

the onset. To help combat this, it is highly recommended to create a weekly timeline for

yourself. This will help to keep you accountable and limit the amount of stress you experience.

The language used throughout the Ted 690 course outline and syllabus can also be a challenge to

understand. Throughout the time in the class you should be doing three things: selecting

appropriate artifacts for the TPE domains, preparing rationales using your text or an article, and

reviewing the work you chose to make sure that it is the best representation of yourself possible.

Another vital thing to have is a completion timeline.

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References

Cox, J. (n.d.). Top 5 Items Every Teacher Should Have in Their Professional Portfolio. Retrieved
June 20, 2019, from https://www.teachhub.com/top-5-items-every-teacher-should-have-
their-professional-portfolio