Capturing the Wisdom of Practice: Professional Portfolios for Educators

What do professional portfolios consist of? Who are their audiences? Why should teachers and administrators use them? How are they structured? In "Capturing the Wisdom of Practice," Giselle Martin-Kniep answers these and other questions, drawing on her work with more than 3,000 teachers and administrators from 400 school districts. Through excerpts from actual portfolios, Martin-Kniep illustrates how to select a range of artifacts that will lead portfolio developers to evaluate and improve their work. She also discusses using portfolios for key purposes: learning, curriculum development and assessment, research, and staff development. Readers will find many practical strategies for building and using portfolios and learn what conditions are needed for success. "I am absolutely convinced," says Martin-Kniep, "that every professional who uses portfolios in a serious way will become a better teacher or administrator."