56 Teaching Philosophy as Portfolio
Your (ever-evolving) Teaching Philosophy as Evidence of Development
Traditionally, a teaching philosophy is a static document—a concise statement outlining an educator’s core beliefs, values, and approaches to teaching. However, reimagining the teaching philosophy as a living document transforms it into a dynamic teaching portfolio that evolves alongside the educator’s practice. By regularly revisiting and updating this document, instructors can reflect on their successes, challenges, and growth, integrating new insights, pedagogical strategies, and student feedback. This approach not only showcases a commitment to continuous improvement but also provides a rich narrative of the educator’s journey, highlighting the intentionality and adaptability central to effective teaching. A living teaching philosophy becomes both a reflective tool and a practical guide, bridging personal values with the ever-changing demands of teaching and learning.
Reflecting on Your Teaching Values
As you learn more about the students at ETSU and their diverse experiences, strengths, and needs, it’s equally important to reflect on your own identity, values, and goals as an educator. Understanding what drives your teaching practice and how your personal values align with your professional work can help create a more intentional, equitable, and impactful classroom environment. This reflection forms the foundation for crafting a teaching philosophy, a vital component of higher education that guides your decisions and communicates your approach to colleagues, administrators, and students alike.
Below, we outline a step-by-step process to help you identify your teaching values and use them to develop a values-based teaching philosophy.
Defining Your Teaching Values
Having a values-based framework for your teaching helps you navigate complex decisions and articulate your professional identity. By reflecting on the “why” behind your teaching, you can align your actions with your goals and ensure your teaching is intentional and meaningful.
Step 1: Identifying Core Teaching Values
Start by considering the moments in your teaching career when you felt most inspired and energized. What was happening? What principles guided your interactions with students? Use a list of potential teaching values (e.g., fairness, collaboration, curiosity, empathy) to guide your reflection. Aim to identify up to five core values that resonate deeply with your approach.
Exercise
Rapidly circle or highlight words that speak to your teaching style or aspirations. Reflect on these choices over several sessions, narrowing your list as patterns emerge.
Step 2: Comparing Perspectives
Think about how others—students, colleagues, supervisors—might describe your teaching. Are these perceptions aligned with how you view yourself? Additionally, reflect on how you would like to be described as an educator. Compare these perspectives to identify gaps or areas for growth.
Step 3: Testing Your Values
Over a few weeks, observe how your chosen values manifest in your teaching. For example, if you value fairness, consider how it shows up in your grading policies or classroom discussions. Are your actions consistent with your values? This process allows you to refine your list and build confidence in your choices.
Integrating Values into Your Teaching Philosophy
Once you have clarity about your teaching values, the next step is to use them as a foundation for your teaching philosophy. This philosophy is a concise statement that explains your approach to teaching and learning and serves as a guide for your professional practice.
Step 1: Documenting Examples
Write down specific examples of how your teaching values appear in your course design, interactions with students, and professional growth. These examples will serve as evidence to support your teaching philosophy and demonstrate your commitment to your values.
Step 2: Aligning with Broader Frameworks
Connect your values to broader teaching practices, ethical codes in your discipline, or educational theories that resonate with your approach. For instance, a value of collaboration might align with active learning strategies, while a commitment to equity could tie into inclusive teaching practices.
Step 3: Addressing Key Questions
Consider the following prompts to shape your philosophy:
- How do your teaching values enhance student learning and well-being?
- How do they address issues of access and equity in the classroom?
- How do they influence your approach to challenges like grading, technology use, or curriculum design?
Putting It Into Practice
Your teaching values should guide your daily decisions and interactions. Keep them visible—write them in a planner or post them in your workspace—as a reminder to stay aligned with what matters most to you. Over time, revisit and refine your values as you grow and gain new experiences.
By articulating a values-based teaching philosophy, you not only define your professional identity but also create a roadmap for fostering meaningful, equitable, and transformative learning experiences for your students.
Sources and Attribution
Primary Source
This section is informed by and adapted from:
- Love, A. J., & Hitchcock, L. I. (2021, July 30). How to Define Your Teaching Values. Teaching and Learning in Social Work.
- Available at: Teaching and Learning in Social Work
For a full list of references and additional resources, please follow the link above.
Use of AI in Section Development
This section was developed using AI-assisted drafting to synthesize and clarify key insights from the source material. ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used to:
- Summarize and structure best practices for identifying and defining personal teaching values.
- Clarify strategies for aligning teaching practices with core values to enhance effectiveness and student engagement.
- Enhance readability and coherence, ensuring that the discussion on teaching values is both research-based and practically applicable.
While AI-assisted drafting provided a structured foundation, all final content was reviewed, refined, and aligned with evidence-based recommendations to ensure accuracy, effectiveness, and adherence to best teaching practices.
