Perceptions Regarding the Efficacy and Use of Professional Portfolios in the Employment of Teachers

This study explored the perceptions of school administrators and teacher educators regarding the effective use of portfolios in the process of hiring new teachers. Three questions helped to focus this study: (1) What are the perceptions of school administrators and teacher educators regarding the value and use of portfolios in the employment of teachers? (2) What are the perceptions of school administrators and teacher educators regarding the quality and accuracy of teaching portfolios in documenting applicants' teaching skills? (3) What are the perceptions of school administrators and teacher educators regarding the problems and barriers in the use of teaching portfolios in the hiring process? Advantages and disadvantages regarding portfolios as an effective tool in the hiring process were identified along with several barriers to their more extensive use. Both teacher educators and school administrators reported that a high percentage of new teacher candidates are still using more traditional paper-based portfolios rather than ePortfolios. From the study emerged a clearer picture of how professional ePortfolios might be more effectively developed and used in the teacher interview and employment process to overcome some of the barriers identified by participants to the effective use of portfolios.