help (Phillip Young)

The Electronic Portfolio Design Process

Let's review the definition of an electronic portfolio. Then we will take a look at a framework you can follow to create an ePortfolio. After you reexamine the definition and purpose, we'll look at the continuous phases of ePortfolio development. 

Definition

An electronic portfolio is an organized and purposeful compilation of academic work samples, collected over time, that demonstrates progress toward a stated academic goal. By engaging in the process of developing an ePortfolio, you will adopt proactive and strategic approaches to planning your educational experience and developing professional and personal goals for life after graduation.

A Framework for ePortfolio Development Now we'll take a look at the process of ePortfolio development. Although this graphic shows the framework as linear, the process for developing an ePortfolio does not need to be linear. The quality of an ePortfolio will improve by continuous cycles through the development framework.   

Now, please read below to see the description of each step in the ePortfolio development process.

Identify Purpose of ePortfolio

· Purpose: To showcase your achievements in your academic program. The ePortfolio documents growth and improvement in an academic area (e.g., Computer Information Systems) with a specific focus on a specialized area (i.e., Information Systems Security, Human Computer Interaction, Healthcare Informatics, Educational Computing, or Online Work and Communities). Your portfolio documents the process of creating a product and/or solving a problem. In addition, your portfolio includes written reflections on significant work and academic experiences. Through the development of an ePortfolio, you will be prepared to present your best work for a job interview or for admittance into a graduate program. 

Compile Components

· Compile: Gather and organize academic work samples.

· Select: Choose work samples that support the purpose of the portfolio and represent achievement of learning objectives.

Create Layout

· Form: Choose the form of delivery for the ePortfolio.

· Layout: Determine the layout and how the content will be organized.

Build Electronic Portfolio

· Construct: Assemble the portfolio.

Review/Peer Review

· Self-Assessment: Conduct a self-assessment to monitor how your learning is progressing.

· Peer Review: Find someone to review your portfolio and provide comments that you may need to enhance your portfolio.

· Reflect: Explain why the work samples were selected and what value they add to the portfolio.

Revise and Refine

· Revise: Evaluate work samples and make necessary changes.

· Refine: Modify the ePortfolio based on feedback from peers and faculty.

Publish

· Save: Save to your hard drive. Make multiple copies of your presentation portfolio.

· Share: Create a CD; publish to an alternative portfolio hosting server.