e-Portfolios
e-portfolios seem to be a recurring theme in our program, yet there is no formalized system for implementing these portfolios. some professors who teach the intro to computers course that i teach use e-portfolios as a key component of this course. i don’t. my problem is that this undertaking really takes a whole program ‘buy in’ and the ed tech class i teach happens very early on. when students (they’re preservice educators) reach student assisting and student teaching they are required to complete a paper portfolio and those instructors would have to make changes to accommodate the e-portfolios if the e-portfolios are to be successful and worth the time of my students, which they aren’t now.
one thing that tends to pique my interest is that almost every article about portfolios mentions that the e-portfolios are beneficial to students as they head out on the job hunt or that they’re good for facilitating conversations or for social networking, etc. my problem is that i have yet to see this research. i’d like to know this as fact or know that personnel directors actually take the time to review e-portfolios as opposed to paper portfolios or whether most just stop with the plain resumes. if evidence exists, i’d love to know about it so that i can build a stronger case for starting an e-portfolio program here. otherwise, i suppose i’ll continue to believe that e-portfolios are a nice tool for instructors who choose this alternative method of evaluation, but that they don’t provide much benefit to most students who are required to develop them. i’d love to be proven wrong.
Tags: e-portfolios, digital portfolios, ePortfolios, portfolios
April 27th, 2006 at 10:26 am
I can’t say that this is proof, but I do know that my current employer looked at my online portfolio, and it greatly influenced their decision to hire me. Also, I still get occasional interview offers from people surfing the web that come across it. I think that ePortfolios will be best if they are kept online.
April 27th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Matt, that’s terrific that the online portfolio helped you out. In your case, the e-portfolio paid off nicely. On the other hand, I have had principals and other administrators in my grad classes who are likely to never view a portfolio online, but might look at a paper copy. It’s probably much easier to show off a paper portfolio during an interview rather than hoping a paper or online version gets viewed along with your resume and cover letter.
Anyway, it was these administrators who lacked technology skills who first got me thinking about the value of e-portfolios. If it’s such a hit or miss undertaking, I don’t think I am ready to make it a requirement over paper portfolios even though I personally try and run paperless classrooms.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
I would have to agree with sean on this topic. I find that it is much more valuable to have a paper copy your portfolio rather than having an e-portfolio. Maybe over the next few years things will change, but as of now it is much easier for employers to physically have a copy of it. Once technology gets to a point where even interviews occur online I feel that portfolios should be a physical document.
September 24th, 2006 at 8:04 am
I would be all for a eportfolio if it was going to be veiwed by potential employers. I think it is another way of showing that you are capable of using technology in a society that demands it. I would guess that most employers would be relately impressed by an eportfolio (if it had the same quality as a paper one). On the other hand, I have no idea how to create one and I would be hesitant to give up having a paper one if it is not something the majority of businesses or schools are looking at quite yet. I do think it is something I would want to learn about before I leave GVSU.
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
[…] have written previously about how i am less than enthusiastic about e-Portfolios in higher education. frankly, i think the […]