My feelings on ePortfolio continue to evolve and adapt as new technologies and instructional schools of thought are developed. I am very lucky in the sense that Eportfolio is heavily tied into all of the courses in the New Media Technology Program. Within the New Media Program students are encouraged to develop digital expressions of their learning throughout their time at LaGuardia. Since professional portfolios are a mainstay in the New Media field, the development of a student centered ePortfolio is a natural and progressive step.
The development of a ePortfolio helps my students to think more intensely about their career goals and aspirations. Since the field of New Media Technology is rapidly expanding and morphing almost monthly, students are, in a sense, forced to think about narrowing their focus to concentrate on what matters most to them. This is important since it is virtually impossible to learn everything while the technology changes so rapidly. Reflecting upon their interest and passions can lead students on the path of true self discovery. Ultimately, this deep reflection can help students to select the areas that will bring them the most professional satisfaction, and hopefully, financial return.
I have used ePortfolio for a number of years. I think that I was familiar with the concept of electronic portfolios even before the term “ePortfolio” was coined. The benefits for New Media based majors is very evident so I try to incorporate ePortfolios into all of my classes. I have asked students to develop static HTML based portfolios, multimedia and interactive portfolios, as well as video based narratives on their learning experiences.
My focus this year has been to be redefine the list of professional portfolio guidelines that I currently use to assist students in creating digital experiences. These new guidelines will recommend how students should craft their entire online persona, and not just in their ePortfolios. As more and more industries are leveraging technology to find out more about their potential employees and partners it will be coming increasing vital that students are careful about how they present themselves online. Personal data mining can help companies track all instances of online references back to you. As a result an inappropriate “Myspace” page that was amusing to your friends and family might not be as humorous to your new employer.