An evaluation of a portfolio as an assessment tool for teaching practice placements

The experience gained on teaching practice placement forms an important and integral part of nurse teacher preparation courses. The importance of assessing student teacher performance in such practice settings is readily acknowledged (English National Board (ENB) 1988) and successful student teacher performance during teaching practice experience is considered a pre-requisite to granting a licence to practice as a nurse teacher. This article discusses the development and subsequent evaluation of an assessment strategy, incorporating the development of a portfolio, employed on a 2 year degree programme concerned with the preparation of nurse teachers.