Getting Started with my ePortfolio

Our ePortfolio in the ADL program is a key component in each class. We are expected to create an ePortfolio, make it our own, and all assignments and tasks in the classes will be put into this ePortfolio. Ultimately, our instructors would like for us to continue to maintain this ePortfolio after completing our ADL program. An ePortfolio can be beneficial to showcase what you have done, what your thoughts are, and where you are going. However, I have found that it can also be time consuming and easy to “ignore”. I was slightly relieved when Harapnuik (2016) stated that while they were evaluating the previous Masters of Digital Learning and Leading program at Lamar University, that many students also stated that they felt that the time and management of the ePortfolio was troublesome for them. At least I know that I’m not alone in this feeling! I was also relieved to hear that the feedback from those students lead to some changes in the current Masters of Applied Digital Learning program at Lamar University. One of those changes being having an entire course dedicated to building our ePortfolio.

While reading more information presented to us on how to create an ePortfolio, I found a lot of helpful tips that I will utilize. First, I will make sure that my ePortfolio is created using a personal account and not an account tied to my current employer. While I plan to stay at my current school district, one can never know what the future holds and I do not want to lose my ePortfolio if I leave the district. Creating an ePortfolio with a personal account will mean that my work comes with me wherever I go. Second, I will use this current course to look into the different hosting options that are available. I currently use Wix because it was easier for me to use than WordPress. I am the most comfortable with using Google Sites, but due to the lack of a built-in blog platform and the ability for commenting from peers, it was advised not to utilize that platform. Learning how to use Wix has been a slight struggle, but I will continue to navigate and learn throughout this course and probably the entire program. Finally, I want to focus on my blog posts. I worry that this may be the hardest thing for me to keep up with. I was once again relieved with Harapnuik (2015) wrote about how some people can post daily but he finds that to be a struggle to maintain. He gave us a great idea that we should start draft blogs and write 50-100 words a day. He said that sometimes when the words start coming we will write more than we thought we could, and if we don’t those 50-100 words will add up to a blog post soon enough.

There are more things that I want to work on with my ePortfolio. For over a year I’ve been saying I’ll create a website for my educational training and consulting business that I am building. For years I’ve helped my colleagues and others with how to utilize educational technology in the classroom and when I became a Technology Integration Specialist for our district I thought it would be a perfect time to build my knowledge and expand my business. However, I have found that trying to build, let alone maintain, a website is time consuming and it keeps getting pushed to the side. I am hoping now that I need to build an ePortfolio for my ADL program that I can find a way to make that ePortfolio work not only for this program, but also for my training and consulting business. I need to start by looking at this ePortfolio as not just one more thing to do for my assignments, but as a tool that I can continue to build and grow to help me now and in the future.

References:

Harapnuik, D. (2016, March 3). EDLD 5303 Getting Started Tips. It’s About Learning. https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=6322

Harapnuik, D. (2015, September 29). How to Create Your ePortfolio. It’s About Learning.https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6065