teaching materials

[3rd timer]

I've noticed that quite a few schools ask for multiple teaching materials. For example, U Mich is asking for a statement of teaching philosophy and experience and evidence of teaching excellence. In cases where they are asking for more than just a statement of teaching philosophy, would it be alright to just send a complete teaching portfolio?

Thanks for your advice!

[New Asst Prof]

I would say yes. This was my strategy last year. I was successful at SLACs. But then again, does Michigan really care about the quality of your teaching? Probably not.

[whatever]

Since we're on the topic. What does "teaching materials," especially "proof of teaching excellence," really mean? I have a statement of teaching philosophy and syllabi out the wazoo, but it would appear that the schools also want student evaluations.

So should we send the evaluation forms themselves? If so, I would think that they should be carefully "curated." Schools don't need to receive the evals written by cranky plagiarizers upset after getting caught cheating. You've probably seen this story in the Chronicle of Higher Ed: bit.ly/q0bpub

I'm not saying that the only reason we receive less-than-perfect evaluations is because of anti-plagiarism tactics. Just saying that a few unhappy students (we all have some) really bring down the totals. So I'm wary about sending evaluation summaries that while mostly positive are peppered with with a few serious negatives.

What do you usually send?

[jobspartan]

In preparing for the job market, the books I read suggest the following should be included as "evidence of teaching effectiveness"

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching responsibilities
Brief summaries of courses taught and your role in that course (ie did you write the syllabi)
Teaching materials (summary of teaching materials)

Teaching Effectiveness
Summary of any teaching awards you have won or been nominated fore
Student Evaluations
Faculty evaluations

Summary of any teaching related activities
Workshops
Professional development
Teaching related presentations

Future Plans/Goals

[onthemarket]

Jobspartan,
Thank you for your post. I just remembered I won a teaching award a few years ago. Are faculty evaluations accessible to you to read before they are submitted? On the form there is always a box called "areas to improve" and even though those might be minor issues (most faculty feel they have to put something in that box, I was told), would that hurt one's chances for a job at a teaching school?

[jobspartan]

Faculty evaluations at my institution are informal, so I don't have a box.

In terms of the "areas to improve" box, I think it depends on what it says. If its is constructive criticisms that can be overcome, I don't think it would hurt you. No teachers are perfect, and those at a teaching institution are well aware of this. f it is something really negative that would be difficult to overcome, that could hurt you.

[unclekarl]

There's not really a standard formula, & the best advice I've gotten is to put together 20 pages and send out what makes the best case for why your teaching will be fantastic.

Also, if you have evaluations, be sure to include them--I've known at least 3 schools who've thrown out applications for not having them, with committee members believing the person had something to hide.. Higher ed has the same problem as primary and secondary ed, in that quantitative data is expected, even though everyone thinks its a terrible measure.

Lastly, be sure to make sure you come across as a brilliant instructor, especially if you are 'so so'. You likely will not get a SLAC position anyway [they find out through having you perform a lecture while on campus and look closely for teaching awards], & others schools expect 'so so' when hiring 'brilliant' instructors as the norm.