Part 4
Many ePortfolios are Waiting for You
This is Part 4 of my ePortfolio series. Read my previous post on how to use the online content editor for RCampus ePortfolios. I will now discuss the uses of building multiple ePortfolios.
What makes RCampus different, is that their ePortfolio system doesn’t specify how each type of ePortfolio should look like. When creating your ePortfolios, you aren’t asked which type they are meant to be. In many ways, these ePortfolios overlap with each other. As an example, an RCampus ePortfolio can be used for showcasing your work through presentation and career-oriented material, while the owner reflects on what he or she has learned in a class.
The ePortfolio builder allows you to build multiple ePortfolios with multiple pages, catering to different areas, such as your classes, degree program, career, etc. RCampus lets you compile and organize your work all in one location online, making it accessible to anyone you choose. ePortfolios can be created for a variety of different purposes. From simply tracking and recording your work for your own personal benefit to showcasing it to others to let you stand out from other applicants, RCampus ePortfolios offer the appropriate web site(s) for everyone. Each web site can be customized to suit its specific purpose and has its own unique URL. Furthermore, they can be accessed directly from any of your ePortfolio pages through their own special links.
Different ePortfolios to Land Different Jobs
Not only can you make multiple ePortfolios for different purposes, but you can make several ones for the same purpose. For example, two career ePortfolios can both be provided for the same audience, except one caters to one type of job (such as writing for print media) and the other is looked upon for another job (such as writing for online media). You can upload different resumes according to specific job applications. These types of ePortfolios help individuals collect and manage artifacts related to their future career goals. The more experience you get, the more you can add to your resume(s), in turn giving you extra opportunities to customize your ePortfolios as you continue on your path to your chosen career. You are up against many other candidates when doing your job search, so why not do anything you can to impress potential employers, setting yourself apart from the crowd?
My main ePortfolio web site, or career ePortfolio, is named, “A Portfolio of Stephanie Hemmens”. This type of ePortfolio can also be considered a presentation ePortfolio, since it is “presenting” or “showcasing” my work. It is home to my resume, sample work, blogs and photograph gallery. This is the web site I refer companies to, enabling them to browse through everything I have to offer for them to get an idea of who I am and the work I do. It is plain white with nothing I wouldn’t want anyone to see or read. Since I have a business audience, I keep my web site as professional as it can look. The purpose of this ePortfolio is to showcase my work and some brief information about myself, so employers can make quality hiring decisions. Once they are aware of what I have done in the past, they will know what I am capable of doing in the future for their company.
Don’t forget to display any letters of recommendation written by professional references (with permission). Employers like to verify how you performed on prior jobs, so the best way to enable them to do this is to provide them with references, should they choose to see them. Of course, the signatures won’t show up on the computer (unless you scan the letters in), but if they include their phone numbers, companies can call them to verify your performance. However, make sure to omit your references and their phone numbers on your resume and ePortfolio. Just state, “References available upon request”. I’m sure they don’t want spam in their inboxes either, so if a company wants references, you can provide them privately. Any positive statements that people write about you should go in a separate section in your ePortfolio. Since my signed letter of recommendation is in PDF format, I was able to make a hyperlink to it in the “Letters of Recommendation” section of my ePortfolio. I also included an excerpt from another letter of recommendation, since my supervisor didn’t want me to display her signature, the company name and any contact information online. Be extra careful!
ePortfolios Aid in Your Education
Learning (or reflective) ePortfolios are used to reflect on your learning activities and assignments in school, thus providing evidence of achievements for educators and peers to view. They can be utilized for showcasing learning outcomes in several classes. If part of your coursework, they can be submitted for reviews and evaluation while communicating with your educators and classmates. It may seem like learning ePortfolios are built for the sole purpose of getting feedback from your teachers as part of your courses, but they can also be used for presenting work for career-minded individuals. For example, a college course could involve the building of a portfolio with everything you learn in the class, resulting in a career portfolio at the conclusion.
I, however, have not used my ePortfolios as part of my school curriculum. Instead of making them accessible to my professors, I use them to present my work for employers to view.
ePortfolios Demonstrate Your Skills
Again, the same type of ePortfolios can be customized to different audiences, such as school administrators for various colleges. You can build an ePortfolio to apply to a college or a graduate school by uploading different artifacts according to specific college applications. Once you apply for acceptance into a school, transfer to another school or graduate, you still have your ePortfolios to share. They are there to stay with you forever.
I called my presentation ePortfolio, “My College ePortfolio”. I am using it to share my school work with employers, should they wish to see it. Again, I kept it clean and much of the content is the same as my other ePortfolio (which is technically a presentation ePortfolio also), such as the home page and the “About Me” section. This one, however, has menu items for “Statement of Purpose,” “Goals,” “Accomplishments” and “School Work.” The main focus is on my time in college, giving prospective employers some background on the classes I took and the kind of papers I wrote to pass them. This ePortfolio also states my achievements and what I hope to accomplish in the future, giving people a clear sense of the type of individual I truly am.
ePortfolios for Everyone
Not all of the RCampus ePortfolios have to be owned by students, however. Teachers and even individuals who hold other occupations can design their own professional ePortfolios to present their own unique work while on the job. For example, maybe one wants to share their project presentation. Graduates can showcase their dissertations and professors can upload work done while on sabbatical leave. Faculty can include their areas of research on their pages, as well.
Read my next post on sharing your work and links.
