Portfolio Checklist | Portfolio Rubric
It is important that your Web site gives students an accurate view of who you are. Students may visit your Web site before they ever attend a class, so in some ways, your Web site is your first impression.
This is also where you can have the most fun or enjoyment with your portfolio. There are many ways to display your personality, but unless you make an effort, students will notice a lack of attention and may feel you are an indifferent instructor.
Who Are You?
Students may make judgments about your personality based on your design choices and writing style as well as the content on your page. Consider how you want your students to perceive you:
- Do you want to be approachable?
- Do you want to be professional?
- Do you want to be focused on your research?
- Do you want to be cutting edge?
- Do you have a special hobby important to your teaching?
- Do you want to show different sides of your personality?
All of these areas can translate to a great portfolio “personality” depending on your design choices.
Some Tips
- Match your design with writing style. For instance a “professional” personality would probably match subtle colors and standard font with straight-forward text. A more “approachable” personality might add more color and match it with humor in the text.
- Refer to design archetypes. The design of a “serious” news magazine will differ from a sports magazine or fashion magazine. Publication designers use different conventional motifs to convey a publication “personality”, and you can too.
- Use your favorite sites as inspiration. You shouldn’t copy them exactly, but you can combine elements from your favorite sites into your own.
- Change formatting defaults. Most sites change at least a link color, font face, or headline color as a way of showing their unique identity.
- Make sure your site is usable, legible and well-written. You don’t want little inconsistencies or errors to detract from the overall impression you wish to give.