Assessment via Portfolio of Evidence as a Tool for Teacher Professional Development: Evidence from Pre-Service Mathematics Teacher Trainees

This chapter is written based on the findings of a study that has investigated the effectiveness of portfolio of evidence (PE) as assessment tool in teaching college geometry to pre-service teacher trainees. It is developed to establish how assessment via PE can be used as an important tool of teacher professional development. The quality of teachers is one of the principal factors affecting the quality of education. Whereas pre- and in-service teacher education programs put the foundation, continuous professional development programs can ensure professional growth and development of teachers to become models of cultural and political transformation and leaders in scientific and technological advancement. PE, an authentic assessment tool, can be adapted as teacher continuous professional development instrument since it integrates independent learning and assessment, increases the durability of learned materials and their transfer to new situations, enhances the metacognitive capacity of learners, enhances higher order thinking and inquiry skills of learners, encourages life-long learning and professional growth of teachers, and promotes any professional development intervention.