Why Use an ePortfolio

I think that ePortfolios are a wonderful way to showcase yourself as an individual. I love what Dr. Harapnuik shared about his sons both having an ePortfolio, but using them in their own unique ways. He further explains how for one of his sons, it showcases him in his profession as a well rounded individual which helps him to get sponsors. His other son uses his to showcase his design ability, in turn helping him to get more opportunities and more clients (Harapnuik & Thibodeaux, 2020). When I finished up my teaching degree, I wanted a way to make myself stand out and really showcase my strengths. When you go in for an interview, you can't really control a lot of what happens. The questions they ask might not showcase your strengths and experiences as well as you would like. When you have an ePortfolio, you have control over what your future employers see and learn about you as a person and learner. You can even personalize your strengths toward the role you are trying to get. At that point, 10 years ago, I just added a QR code onto my resume, and handed my resume to the interviewer. It contained my resume, my educational philosophy, and all of my letters of recommendation from professors, mentors, colleagues, etc. I have since used a form of ePortfolio every time I have tried to get a new job since then. Every time, someone has made a comment about how it helped me to stand out among my peers, helping me to get the job.




I think another huge reason to have an ePortfolio is the reflection process it makes you go through as a learner. You really have to think about what qualities you want to continue developing and how you would showcase that. When I was reading the 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio (2010), it described the benefits from three different perspectives: the student, the educator, and the employer. It broke down the benefits for each of those roles in the process and the product. My biggest takeaway from this article was the reflection piece and being able to look back on how far you have grown and to also look forward toward goals you want to achieve and what that can look like. Going through the process of creating an ePortfolio is the embodiment of being a learner and the documentation that goes with the growth that happens. It makes learning visible and more intentional.


References:


(2020). LMD EP30 ePortfolio Why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx304CW-gKU&feature=youtu.be.



Barnstable, K. (2010, September 30). 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio. Stable Transitions. https://kbarnstable.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/41-benefits-of-an-eportfolio/.