Instructors’ narrative reflections provide an opportunity to report on the development of their teaching over time.
The UI Framework for Assessment of Teaching recognizes that no single source of evidence is sufficient by itself to fully represent quality of teaching. Assessment of teaching should be based on (1) at least two different types of evidence and (2) a narrative self-assessment which provides context and explanation for the attached evidence documents.
As illustrated in Figure One, the Narrative Self-Assessment centers on student learning and identifies what the instructor sees in the evidence they have chosen to provide that helps demonstrate one or more of the elements of the Teaching Effectiveness Framework:
- Learning-centered teaching practices that are engaging and inclusive.
- Integration and alignment of learning goals, course materials, assignments, activities, and assessment strategies.
- Responsiveness to feedback from students and peers related to supporting student learning.
- Commitment to ongoing growth and development as an instructor.
As these four elements suggest, the Teaching Effectiveness Framework recognizes that developing as an educator is a work-in-progress.
Therefore, quality of teaching can be demonstrated by attentiveness to evidence of student learning, responsiveness to feedback, and commitment to ongoing development. There is no assumption that excellence is best demonstrated by an absence of areas for improvement.
Figure One: The overall framework for assessment of teaching
Getting Started
A narrative self-assessment can contribute effectively to assessment of teaching when it provides:
- Context of instructional responsibilities, goals, and approaches during the review period, not necessarily limited to formal classroom settings
- Interpretation of evidence materials they have chosen to provide and an explanation of what the instructor sees in the evidence that links their teaching practices to student learning.
- Next steps based on their analysis of the accompanying evidence
Instructors are welcome to contact the Center for Teaching to consult on strategies for reflecting systematically on their teaching, interpreting evidence of student learning, and crafting a narrative self-assessment of their teaching.
Choosing Artifacts to Represent Your Teaching
This Center for Teaching guide helps you select and annotate artifacts that showcase your teaching growth.
Brainstorming and Revision Tool
This Center for Teaching resource supports the development of a coherent narrative self-assessment by helping you link your teaching artifacts to the broader framework of teaching effectiveness.
Collecting evidence for your teaching portfolio
This Center for Teaching article contains strategies for how you can gather evidence for your teaching portfolio by reflecting upon and documenting evidence of your teaching.