What is the primary purpose of creating a professional portfolio?

The primary purpose of creating a professional portfolio is to document knowledge and skills as a prospective teacher. A professional portfolio serves as a comprehensive collection that showcases a teacher's abilities, experiences, and growth throughout their career. It allows educators to present evidence of their qualifications, such as lesson plans, student work samples, teaching evaluations, and personal reflections. This documentation not only highlights a teacher's competencies and achievements but also demonstrates their teaching philosophy and approach, making it an essential tool for job applications, professional development, and self-assessment.

While gathering experiences, clarifying teaching goals, and compiling course readings can be valuable components of a teacher's journey, they do not encompass the primary function of a professional portfolio, which focuses on providing a cohesive representation of an individual's professional capabilities and pedagogical strategies.