Portfolio Defense

Your portfolio defense is a culminating presentation and discussion that analyzes and synthesizes your Apprenticeship. Your supervising administrator and educator team must be present. Their role is to assist you in thinking more deeply about your experience and serving as catalysts for your future growth as a licensed teacher.

Your defense takes place in two parts: a 30-minute portfolio presentation, and a 30-minute Q&A session. To prepare for the defense, you should consider first the organization of your presentation. Your presentation should be organized by self-developed themes, rather than by section, so that your experience is personalized and integrated, rather than presented as separate parts. For example, some themes could be "teaming," "content support," "academic engaged time," "Response to Intervention," or "critical thinking," themes that encompass multiple experiences, including your coaching sessions, interventions, and experiences to meet standards. Your presentation should touch on all parts of your portfolio, and should be supported by data collected during your Apprenticeship. Your presentation should utilize visual aids such as a PowerPoint and/or handouts so that all team members can participate. Professionalism and use of standard spelling and grammar is a must.

Your presentation and portfolio will be assessed by each team member using two rubrics, developed and validated by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU): the Oral Communication VALUE Rubric, and the Integrative Learning VALUE Rubric

(click for links). Be sure to review the content of these rubrics before beginning your work on your defense.