Educator Portfolio Template of the Academic Pediatric Association's Educational Scholars Program

Maryellen Gusic; Latha Chandran; Dorene Balmer; Donna D'Alessandro; Constance Baldwin

doi:10.15766/mep_2374-8265.626

The educator portfolio (EP) is a collection of information that documents educational efforts, activities, and scholarship. This tool provides a template for collecting EP information in a standardized manner. Standardization makes the EP suitable for internal peer review in promotion decisions and also allows for external review. We have experience both in education and in developing and using EPs in our academic careers. This template was created using a scholarly approach. The first step involved a critical appraisal of existing formats for portfolios and of the literature regarding their use. Following a modified Delphi process, we conducted multiple iterations of review and refinement of the template. In our national faculty development program, this template is used as a developmental document. Throughout the program, scholars are expected to build their EPs with mentoring and feedback from faculty. Ultimately, these materials are used to create a high-stakes EP for promotion review. This comprehensive template contains both quantitative and qualitative components; to our knowledge, it is the first to do so. The qualitative elements promote reflective self-assessment by users. Questions throughout stimulate users to consider criteria for scholarship. The purpose of each section is clearly defined. The instructions embedded in each section discuss important underlying educational principles to be considered during the development of the document. During the pilot of this template, we realized that young educators needed specific guidelines to enable them to complete their EPs successfully. The instructions were enhanced by the description of educational principles and of specific references from the literature. The guidelines were also augmented by specific examples of activities, teaching strategies, assessment tools, and evaluation strategies. Throughout completion of their EPs, scholars are asked to use the principles of educational scholarship in their analysis of the results and impact of their work. This template encourages users to reflect on their work and to use what they learn to guide their future educational efforts. The template is generalizable to all institutions and can be used by all types of educators within an organization. Educational Objectives The goals of this resource are to: 1. Develop a standardized template that documents users’ educational activities and outcomes. 2. Stimulate and document thoughtful reflection on these activities. 3. Integrate educational principles and the criteria governing scholarship in the instructions and in the qualitative elements of a portfolio. 4. Create a template whose format allows a standardized approach to the appraisal and critique of the contents of a portfolio.

Educator Portfolio Template of the Academic Pediatric Association's Educational Scholars Program

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