It can be very useful to post some of your teaching materials on your website. This section can act as a sort of informal teaching portfolio, allowing visitors to get a sense of your teaching approaches and techniques. It can also be a wonderful resource for your fellow teachers, particularly if you have a great exercise or prompt to share.
Megan has arranged the "Teaching Materials" section of her website as a series of subdivisions, each with a descriptive title such as "Teaching Philosophy" or "Prompts." This makes the section tidy and easily navigable. Clicking on each link takes visitors to a new page.
While you may want to post other sorts of information here, what Megan has posted is fairly reflective of many teaching portfolios. Her teaching philosophy introduces her approach to teaching, and the syllabus, lesson plans, prompts, and class activities sections demonstrate how she translates that approach into actual student interaction. Finally, Megan also provides a selection of sample student evaluations that show how students have responded to her teaching. Taken together, these pages give a good idea of what a class taught by Megan might look like.
Now, let's take a closer look at these individual sections.
Teaching Philosophy. If you haven't already, consider writing a statement of your teaching philosophy. Virtually all academic employers require one, as do many teaching portfolio and certificate programs for university graduate students. The Chronicle of Higher Education offers some advice here, and you can view a sample teaching philosophy (from a Stanford student!) here. In general, a good teaching philosophy statement will:
- Be brief. Don't run on for eight pages about your inspirations from kindergarten up. Remember that most people who are reading this will read many, many others. Be kind to their eyes.
- Give examples. Don't rhapsodize in abstract platitudes about how your classroom is "student-centered." Give a good "hook" for readers to latch onto.
- Involve students. Don't get so focused on your teaching approaches that you forget to describe, at least briefly, how students have responded to these. If you're that amazing engaging totally fantabulous teacher whom that college just has to hire, show them why.
Syllabi. Posting syllabi can be a great way to demonstrate your teaching approaches more concretely than your teaching philosophy might. They can also reflect how you manage a semester/quarter and show off your mad planning skills.
Lesson Plans. Posting lesson plans can give visitors an idea of how you would manage a single class period and incorporate the approaches from your teaching philosophy in a concrete, interactive way.
Prompts. Being able to write clear, concise directions is invaluable. Demonstrate that you can clearly communicate your expectations to students by posting a few prompts or exercises.
Class Activities. Megan has posted a handout she made for students called "Zombie Grammar." Posting class activities you've created can show your engagement with your class and your response to student needs and wishes.
Sample Student Evaluations. You don't have to post all of your evaluations here, and nobody's expecting you to post that one from that student who thought, like, you totally robbed her of an A. Nevertheless, posting some selected evaluations can give visitors a sense of how students respond to your teaching.
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