E-Portfolio Time!

The time has come to produce an e-portfolio! This is a useful tool that I recommend to anyone hoping to examine their experience and show what they can do. Some of you may be wondering why the use of an e-portfolio is appropriate. This question and more are answered in the following....

Why have you chosen to complete an e-portfolio?
I have chosen to complete an e-portfolio for a couple of reasons. First, I think the end result will have several uses for me. These are discussed in the next section. The ability to produce something that is directly applicable to real life is very appealing. Second, I think the process will be valuable for me. I have built websites before, but it has been a bit of time. I hope this will be a good refresher to me, and further my experience in this subject. I am hoping to develop the ability to perhaps someday teach some computer science, so these kinds of abilities could come in handy.

What professional uses does an e-portfolio have for you?
An e-portfolio could certainly come in handy in the future. I hope this will be a fairly comprehensive collection of documents that will outline my experiences and abilities, and that I will be able to use it in the process of applying for jobs (in essence, selling myself to employers). I also see e-portfolios as a potentially useful tool in the classroom. It might be nice to someday incorporate something like this into a class. I think that it is a valuable tool for students; not only do you produce something that can be used, but it also allows a person to examine and become aware of their strengths and possible areas for improvement.

What content do you plan to include?
As previously mentioned, I hope to include content that outlines my experiences and abilities. This could include but may not be limited to: my resume, certificates (i.e. professional development, training, etc.), volunteer experience, educational experience, and a philosophy of education. More specifically, I may include an internship report, and sample lesson/unit plans or developed activities to showcase my educational experience.

What graphic design considerations have you taken into account for the look of your e-portfolio?
I have been thinking about this a fair amount and I am not quite sure about the final look. I want my e-portfolio to look neat and clean, and fairly simple. At the same time, I want to make sure that I use friendly colours and keep it aesthetically pleasing. I hope to keep navigation simple and user-friendly, since I will likely be using this as a tool to advertise my abilities. Essentially, I want the e-portfolio to be simple yet attractive, and showcase my interest in and love for this career. I have included a simple possible sketch for my design here, but will state that it is definitely subject to change.

What concerns do you have about the process? How do you plan to address these concerns?

One of my concerns for this process is simply recalling everything that I need to know to construct the e-portfolio, but having experience with this I feel it will come back easily with practice. Another slight concern that I have is finishing my e-portfolio on time to use it, but don’t think this will be too big of an issue. I have a fair amount of interest in this assignment, so I feel that I will be able to stay on task easily. My main concern is producing something that looks authentic and attractive, but not too “cheap” or clumsy. In order to do this, I think I will examine other portfolios, and ask for advice on my own portfolio as much as possible. I think that if I keep in contact with peers and classmates, I should be able to make a desirable end product.