What are my past experiences with digital portfolios? During my last year in college as I prepared for my Bachelor's Degree in Teaching & Learning, we were asked to create a digital space – or online portfolio, to display our experiences in education as well as lesson plans, we had created. I thought it was a great idea except it took so much time to create and our professors or even future employers did not really seem interested in reviewing these portfolios. That was as far as I went with this assignment. I have recently begun learning about authentic ePortfolios and I realize that the digital space I created years ago could have grown into something that charted my growth as an educator instead of just displaying a resume alongside a couple of classroom lessons. I see the benefits of being able to have a space to build on and look back on the educational and professional journey that has brought me here today.
Why should students create an ePortfolio? I think this has a lot to do with growth and self-reflection. It’s like teaching a lesson to students – we reflect back on what could have been done better and how to best implement that in our next lesson. When I was a brand-new teacher, I did lots of reflecting on my own and researched ways to keep my students engaged through my lessons. Imagine if I could have saved all of this research and learning in a digital space rather than just in a notebook! That would have been very useful today in my role as an instructional coach and working with teachers. I believe students should create an ePortfolio in order to develop a better sense of themselves as well as develop their learning and showcase their achievements.
How do we even begin? As I was researching approaches to using ePortfolios - for myself & students, I came across Different Approaches To Using Student Blogs And Digital Portfolios blog post by Kathleen Morris. I found it interesting how she referred to these as "Blogfolios" or digital portfolios on a blogging platform. She also listed the six styles of portfolios as well as the benefits of exploring digital portfolio options. Morris makes a great point in her conclusion when she states, "Don’t let fear or indecision around student blogs freeze you into inaction. Worrying too much about whether you’re “doing it right” can lead to not doing it at all."
Explore. If you'd like to learn a little more About Me, feel free to explore my ePortfolio as a way of following my journey through education and as a newbie ePortfolio and blog creator!
Sources:
Morris, Kathleen. “Different Approaches To Using Student Blogs And Digital Portfolios.” The Edu Blogger, 16 Nov. 2020, https://www.theedublogger.com/different-approaches-to-using-student-blogs-and-digital-portfolios/. Accessed 16 June 2023.
Hi! I think your post is spot on in pointing out that creating an ePortfolio can be time-consuming. From designing to blog posts, there's so much thought that has to be put into how everything comes together! And you're right! There are many benefits of having an authentic ePortfolio. It can be used to chart one's growth as an educator, showcase one's skills and experiences, and reflect on one's teaching philosophy. It's definitely a valuable resource for educators, and it can help us achieve our professional goals. Thank you for sharing :)