Overview
The final e-portfolio, the last assignment for this course, will comprise a selection of your very best work. The objectives of the e-portfolio assignment include:
- to reflect on the work you have done this semester by revisiting that work with an eye to revision and to individual assignments’ place in the larger scheme of the course
- to learn–and put into practice–the difference between revision and proofreading or editing
- to use rhetorical skills, once again, to design and present that work to a broad online audience that might include Paterno Fellows or SHC administrators, future employers, friends, parents, and the like.
- to reflect on the rhetorical dimensions of such broad self-presentation and to make design decisions accordingly
Audience/Purpose
You will likely want to purpose your e-portfolio so that it is a beginning text for ultimate submission for the Excellence In Communication Certificate. Actual submission will occur in your junior or senior year, but you can use this assignment as a way to begin building for that submission. See the ECC Website for criteria.
Some students like to design their e-portfolios for a potential employer or for an internship. If you have ideas for a different audience/purpose, please see me. Even if you choose a more informal audience (parents, for instance), your e-portfolio should demonstrate your very best work in a way that is attractive, thoughtful and professional.
Details
In preparation for this capstone assignment, the last few class meetings will be spent arranging your portfolio and writing reflective, introductory, and biographical prose (or poetry, perhaps!)
Requirements:
- Write an introduction to your portfolio and place it on your Welcome/Home page. The introduction should identify any guiding themes for your portfolio (intellectual or personal interests/passions, strengths, key experiences, etc.) The introduction should also preview the arrangement of the portfolio, situate and contextualize the pieces you include and reflect on the role your work will play in your future.
- Create pages (at least three additional – most students do more) for your e-portfolio to showcase different aspects of who you are. Design EACH page to be attractive and informative with visuals, links, headings, etc. Make sure your portfolio is easily navigable.
- Incorporate your very best classwork. Revise work, if needed. Include any outside work as well (photography, poetry, research papers, videos, etc.). Be sure to introduce every piece explaining what it is, why you created it and what you were hoping to accomplish with it.
- Consider an overall theme or color scheme to add cohesion to your portfolio.
- Include at least 10 blog entries. You may simply build your portfolio on the same website you used for your blogs OR if you are creating a separate portfolio, choose your best blog entries and incorporate them.
- Design a professional About page. Include at least one image of yourself (not prom pictures or weird cut outs!). Include a biographical narrative – tell us a story about yourself!
- Remember that websites are a highly visual medium – use colors, photos, videos and design elements (headings, boldings, typography) to create an attractive and professional portfolio.
- Consider creating a short personal mission statement that illustrates your philosophy of life and what you would like to accomplish. Some students like to create video mission statements using Animoto or Slide or IMovie.
Ultimately: Make sure the overall impression is vibrant and worthy of notice!
More Ideas:
- Search Flickr for Creative Commons licensed images to create an attractive and consistent visual argument
- Use Scribd to upload and present documents, like resumes, essays, etc.
- Use Slideshare or SlideRocket to upload and present Powerpoint or Prezi presentations.
- Integrate other media projects (photos, images, links, video and podcasts).
Important: Remember to attribute ALL photos not owned by you. Use Creative Commons licensed, public domain or non-copyright protected images. If you do use a copyright-protected image (and most online images are copyright protected), you must obtain permission from the owner to use (and sometimes pay a fee).
Links and Resources
You must be logged in to post a comment.