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e-Portfolios

Empowering teaching candidates

The ePortfolio system and center was developed by Trina Davis and Arlen Strader in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture at Texas A&M University. Future employers and university supervisors can use the ePortfolio Center to search for ePortfolios of teaching candidates that are in theeZone database system. School administrators can browse ePortfolios in the center to explore the body of work that teaching candidates have developed throughout the Accelerate Online teacher certification program. Professional development coordinators can also search for teachers' >ePortfolios who are completing professional development programs in the eZone.

Students submit various artifacts weekly that chronicle their experiences throughout the three phases of the Accelerate Online teacher certification program: online instruction, classroom field observations, and the supervised first-year teaching internship. Teaching candidates develop and submit program artifacts to their ePortfolios during the pre-service component of the program first, including field observations, module/course assignments, and web resources. During their first year of teaching, students submit classroom instructional artifacts that represent their organizational, instructional, and management processes used in the classroom, such as samples of instruction, teacher-made assessment tools, classroom management plan, parental collaboration, professional development, reflections, guidance and encouragement, and evaluations. Every Accelerate Online student has an ePortfolio, which can continue to be used even after the program has been completed. To explore theePortfolio Center, please visit http://empowermentzone.tamu.edu/portfolios/center/ . For further information, Trina Davis may be contacted at tdavis@coe.tamu.edu.

Sample ePortfolios of Accelerate Online students:

Daniel Lee graduated with a Master of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. One of his professional goals is "to be a great secondary science teacher in the public school system."

Daniel is seeking certification in Life Sciences for grades 8-12.

Christi McNealy received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University. Her professional goals include a desire "to create a classroom where students feel safe, respected, and inspired to learn."

Christi is seeking certification in Life Sciences for grades 8-12.