Have you ever wondered what exactly an e-Portfolio is? Do you hear about them but find that you’re lost as to what you should put in one that goes beyond your resume and examples of a few assignments you aced at school?
The first thing to know is that an e-Portfolio’s can have many elements in it. Combined, an e-Portfolio can be a powerful tool you can use to help you impress an employer or a graduate school . There is no one “right” e-Portfolio … the important thing to remember is to keep it professional, updated, and also enjoyable to browse through. (It doesn’t have to be filled with charts and composition writing that is … have fun with it!).
Here are some of the basics to keep in mind. It’d be a good idea to include these basics and build on them ..
Image from: theother662004. (2008, February 8). Purposes of e-Portfolios (ePF).
One of the important things is to think outside the proverbial box and give the e-Portfolio more depth about your strengths and the uniqueness that a resume or cover letter can express.
More insights on an e-Portfolio’s potential is offered in this next video. As you’re going to see, the e-Portfolio can include a range of items showing:
- what you know
- what you’re learning
- how you’re growing as a person as you juggle learning, volunteering, working, and leisure (making time to have some fun makes you more attractive than being a 24/7 bookworm!)
I hope you’ve taken out a few minutes to watch the video! As I said and as this video demonstrates, you can make the e-Portfolio uniquely you. Add customized designs and colours, images, audio files, examples of relevant coursework … the more thought you give to what you put in it, the more powerfully it can showcase your achievements, thoughts, and activities in progress. The e-Portfolio helps you go beyond your resume and cover letter, giving examples and highlights of things that would make you attractive as a candidate for work or more school. Aside from this, it also shows that you have the web-savvy required to study, work, and play in a world going more and more digital almost every day!
UBC has a few things of its own to say about the place e-Portfolios have today in our learning and working lives. Have a look at UBC’s e-learning site for resources, tips and examples, and more!
Image from: University of British Columbia. (2010, August 26). e-Portfolios.
This site has some suggestions to help with starting up an e-Portfolio. Good luck and give the e-Portfolio a go as you learn, volunteer, work, and play as a student!