Why an ePortfolio?

Students will have space on a college server, divided into two basic areas:  

1) A password protected Assessment Folder for placement and storage of course-work from portfolio-intensive courses.

2) A Web Portfolio folder where students can create a web page that presents their work, their resumes, and their interests to a broader public.  

Why produce your portfolio electronically?

SMSU has an interest in archiving the portfolios of graduates of the Professional Education programs.  The task of managing three-inch three-ring binders for thousands of students for several years is daunting, not to mention the difficulty of searching them, duplicating them, storing them, sorting them, sampling them, etc. Most of these problems are solved by utilizing an ePortfolio format. 

The ePortfolio format is advantageous for you as well.  Following are several benefits that you may realize by producing your portfolio in an electronic format:

	Your portfolio can be easily reproduced.  You can distribute copies to potential employers to help set you apart from others who may be seeking the same position. The electronic portfolio is easy to distribute on CD-ROM. You could also publish a version of your portfolio to a site on the web that is accessible to potential employers, graduate school admissions offices, etc.
	Your portfolio can be easily moved and/or archived. As a web site, it will be in a universal format that can be opened and viewed by web browsers that come standard on machines of all platforms.  Also, this is likely to ensure the longevity of your portfolio over the years. This will allow you to effectively utilize the portfolio you begin here at SMSU as the beginning of a professional development portfolio that you can develop throughout your career.
	Learning to create an electronic portfolio helps you develop a technology skill.  It provides the context for learning education-technology integration and media production skills.  All of these can benefit you in your classroom someday.  Who knows? You may want to utilize ePortfolios as a way to assess your students over the years.
	The electronic portfolios allows you to utilize multiple rich media that can appeal to a broad audience in an interesting, engaging way.
	The construction of an electronic portfolio can enhance your marketability, as it provides demonstrable evidence of your proficiency in a technology skill. These skills have become increasingly important to employers.
	The electronic portfolio allows you to create a record of your efforts that is potentially more authentic than other methods.  For example, if you are a music major, you can include your recitals and compositions.  If you are a sculptor, you can include three-dimensional virtual reality renderings of your work. Why make a web-based portfolio? (from Elon College) Organization and Planning  Students complete a separate template for each experience they wish to keep. The template helps students organize experiences and provides a structure for reflecting on these experiences. Holistic Development  Reflection doubles every learning opportunity- the actual experience plus your reflection on it. Reflection helps develop a deeper understanding of one's total experience and the interconnections among academics, co-curricular activities, community involvement, and personal and career objectives. Marketing  The portfolio encourages students to learn to present themselves in a professional manner. Company and graduate school recruiters think highly of the portfolio for three main reasons. First, the multi-dimensional quality allows recruiters and graduate schools to learn more about your relevant experiences by clicking on the links to second and third-level pages that you've developed. Second, the portfolio is easily accessible to recruiters from anywhere in the world. Third, the fact that you produced a web-based portfolio demonstrates your comfort and competence with computer applications. Computer Skill Development  Students learn to use a web editor and various software applications in the development of a web portfolio. Accessible Anywhere  An advantage of the electronic portfolio is that the student can work on it from anywhere, anytime. The student may also give others access to all or parts of their portfolio (from a student or advisor on the campus, to an employer all the way across the nation or world).