The Professional Development Portfolio: learning through reflection in the first year of teaching

Abstract

Pre‐service teachers in the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta compile a Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) which includes artefacts and reflective writings. The process of developing their PDP enables student teachers to grow and develop professionally. This paper explores whether the reflective learning skills which teachers acquire in their pre‐service education are retained in their first year of teaching. The study suggests that these skills are internalised by teachers and used in an informal manner to help them reportedly cope better with their new role as effective teachers.

Keywords:

• reflective learning skills
• pre‐service teacher education
• new teachers
• professional development portfolios