Part 3
Endless Creativity
This is Part 3 of my ePortfolio series. Read my previous post on how to design your ePortfolio. I will now discuss how to use the online content editor for RCampus ePortfolios.
The online content editor is shown when you edit any page of your web site. It has all of the tools you need to be creative when entering your desired content. One can also access the “Editor Help” instructions whenever using this feature. However, many of the icons in the editor should seem familiar to RCampus users, because they are the same as those found in Microsoft Office.
Microsoft Word: A Friend of RCampus ePortfolios
If you want to include a document--such as a resume or written piece--in your ePortfolio, there is the option of inserting it from Microsoft Word. The “Paste from Word” icon enables users to simply copy and paste text from Word, so they don’t have to rewrite their documents. For example, I copied my resume from Word and pasted it into the editor, so that the whole page shows up in my ePortfolio, without having to click on a link to it.
Add Personality to Your Text
Anything you type in the online content editor can be formatted any way you want. You can bold, italicize and underline text as well as choose the text and background color. Justifying the text is also very easy, whether you want it on the left, in the center, on the right or in block form. One can also insert numbered and bulleted lists to outline and organize their work, making it easier for visitors to view. Users are also provided with three content templates to insert. One formats an image, title and content, another inserts two columns and the other displays text and a table. These templates are similar to the slide themes seen in Microsoft PowerPoint. Furthermore, you can choose different styles and formats as well as pick from various fonts and sizes. Another option is to be even more creative and add emoticons, which bring out your personality. Choose from smiley faces and other small images. Personally, I don’t use them, because my ePortfolios cater to a more professional audience, but if you are feeling like having a little fun, by all means, use them.
Links, Links, Links!
You can also insert a link from the “Insert/Edit Link” icon or by simply entering the web address or URL. Personally, however, I prefer hyperlinking a word or short phrase, instead of a URL, because this looks more professional. This can be done by typing out a word or phrase that you would like to be a direct link, highlighting it and then inserting the appropriate URL. Visitors will now be able to click on this type of link, which takes them directly to the intended web site.
Moreover, like mentioned above, users can display files from their computer, but this time they can be made into hyperlinks, as well. For example, I browsed through my documents on my computer and uploaded my work done in school and through internships into separate hyperlinks. When guests click on these, the server takes them directly to the Microsoft Word documents. I have also provided links to a few of my blogs, a letter of recommendation, as well as my professional pages, such as LinkedIn.
Pictures Say A Thousand Words
There is also an icon to insert and edit images. One way is to browse your server for a picture. Another way is to choose an image on your computer and then upload it to your web site, which is what I did for my home page and “Photograph Gallery” page. Users can also preview their photographs while changing the size of the width and height, adding borders and aligning them to their preference. One important tip: reformat your image by cropping it or changing the overall size on your computer before you upload it, because if this is done only afterward, the image could take longer to load when people go to your page.
Read my next post on the uses of building multiple ePortfolios.
