Creating+an+Online+Portfolio

=Creating an Online Portfolio= With this slidecast and the resources below, you can build your own online portfolio. The slidecast is more of an overview piece. The written instructions below give you more step-by-step instructions, including information about other platforms you can use to create your portfolio besides the Wetpaint wiki mentioned in the slideshow.

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//Click on the player above to hear a narrated version of this slidecast.//

Vocabulary
**Working Portfolio**-- The "everything but the kitchen sink" portfolio. This is your collection of EVERYTHING that you have that demonstrates competencies, work experience, learning, achievements, etc. You draw from your working portfolio to create your presentation portfolios (see next vocab word).

**Presentation Portfolio**--This is a subset of your working portfolio, developed for a specific purpose, such as applying for a job or demonstrating learning for a course. For people who want to share different sides of themselves with different employers, more than one presentation portfolio is a must!

**Artifact**--The stuff that goes into your portfolio. This includes documents, pictures, videos, audio, digital scans of news stories and credentials, links to online materials you've created, PowerPoint slides, etc.

Six Steps to Creating Your Online Portfolio
//These steps will show you how to create your own online portfolio using FREE tools, many of which you may have used for other purposes.//

1. Identify the **purpose** of your portfolio 2. Identify/create/organize your **artifacts** 3. Identify the technology **tool** you will use 4. Set up a portfolio **structure** and Table of Contents 5. **Create** your portfolio 6. **Market/Share** your portfolio

STEP ONE: Purpose
Is it to:
 * Why are you creating your online portfolio?**
 * Collect all of your career and learning materials in one location to **create a "working portfolio"**?
 * Highlight your skills, abilities and work experiences to **apply for a specific job**?
 * Showcase your competencies and talents for **a potential promotion or for "passive job searching"**?
 * **Apply to college or grad school**?
 * **Demonstrate learning**, either for a specific course or for personal/professional development?

Identifying your purpose will help you determine:
 * The **structure and format** for your portfolio
 * The "**artifacts**" (items for your portfolio) to select
 * The **tools** for creating your portfolio

Who is the audience for your portfolio?
 * What is their **level of comfort with technology**?
 * What are they **expecting to see/find in your portfolio**?
 * What **kind of "story"** do they want you to tell about yourself?
 * What do you want to **highlight** for this audience?

STEP TWO: Artifacts
Your artifacts are the items that you will want to put into your portfolio that best represent the story you want to tell your audience about you. Examples of materials to include: The artifacts you select will depend on the purpose of your portfolio. If you're applying for a specific job, for example, you'll want to include those artifacts that will best sell you to the employer. These would potentially be different from the artifacts you might select to apply to graduate school or to demonstrate learning.
 * **//Resume/Record of Work Experience//**
 * **//Work samples//**--this can include documents, presentations, reports, online materials, etc.
 * **//Copies of credentials//**, such as degrees, certificates, licenses, etc.
 * **//Records of achievements//**, including certificates, newspaper or magazine stories, etc.
 * **//Performance evaluations, commendations,//** etc.
 * **Recommendations**
 * **//Transcripts//**
 * **//Customer feedback//**
 * **//Class assignments//**
 * **//Projects//**

If you're creating your working portfolio, then there's no need to worry about selecting specific artifacts--you'll want to include everything you can find. However if you're creating a presentation portfolio, you will need to be more selective. **Only choose those artifacts that will be most appealing and informative to your target audience and that will best represent your work.** As you select your artifacts think about these questions:
 * Selecting Your Artifacts**
 * **Why am I creating this portfolio? Who is the target audience** and what do they want to see from me? Are there certain artifacts that are expected? If you're using your portfolio to apply for work, for example, it may be a good idea to include your resume. On the other hand, if you're applying to grad school you may want to include scanned copies of your transcripts.
 * **Which artifacts do I have that tell the best story about me?** For example, if you want to illustrate specific skills or competencies, then choose those artifacts that do the best job of demonstrating your skills.
 * **Is there a way I can SHOW rather than tell something**? Rather than writing in your portfolio that customers love you, can you show this? Do you have a thank-you letter or letter of commendation from your employer that you could include? What about photos or video that you can use to spice up your portfolio narrative?
 * **How far back should I go?** Where possible, try to share samples and information from the past few years. Employers are generally most interested in what you've been doing recently, not awhile ago. In some cases you may have to reach further back, but I would suggest not going back any further than 5 years, at least for work samples, evaluations, etc. It makes people wonder what's been happening since then.

Most people are overwhelmed by huge quantities of online information. They tend to scan rather than read. They also want to be able to easily navigate through materials.
 * BEWARE PORTFOLIO OVERLOAD** !

When you're pulling together your portfolio, be ruthless in your editing, only including those pieces of information that will be most targeted to your audience. If you have skills in two very different areas, for example, you may want to create two different portfolios--one for each type of work. It's not a good idea to try to be too general in creating a presentation portfolio because most people won't wade through everything. And if your portfolio is TOO extensive, they may not look at all.


 * Some Considerations**
 * **Find the best digital format**--It may be a good idea to convert Word documents into PDF files, for example, to ensure that they can't be tampered with. You can find a free online tool for converting your files at [|www.pdfonline.com].[|Scribd]is another option. With it, you can upload files to the Scribd site and then embed them in a blog, similar to what you can do with Slideshare (see below). Some of your materials will probably be in paper form, for example, certificates and degrees. You may want to scan these materials to convert them to a digital format that you can upload to your portfolio. If you don't have a scanner, office services stores like FedEx Kinkos can provide the service.
 * **Consider using [|Slideshare] for PowerPoint presentations**—Slideshare is a free website that allows you to upload to their site and then will give you the computer code you need to embed your presentations directly into your portfolio. This can make a PowerPoint much more visually compelling than simply having a download link. Slideshare will also let you protect against downloads, so that people would be able to view your slides, but not download them to their computers.
 * **Don't forget online materials**--A lot of your work may already be online. Be sure to include links to sites you've created, online news or magazine articles, etc.
 * **Think about storage**--Try to find one place for storing all of your digital materials. Some people like to use a flash drive. You can also upload materials to online storage sites such as [|ThinkFree]or [|MediaFire]. Be sure that you have some way of saving links to the materials you already have online so you don't lose track of those.

STEP THREE: Tools
There are a variety of tools you can use to create an online portfolio. Helen Barrett has [|a great list here]. Here are three types of tools to consider: Below, I’ve included a matrix that you can use to compare different features and find the option that may be best for you. You'll want to consider things like:
 * A blogging platform ([|Wordpress.com])
 * A wiki ([|Wikispaces])
 * A website builder ([|Google Sites])
 * **Do you already have an online presence, such as a blog**? If so, how do you want to connect your blog and your portfolio?
 * **Do you want people to be able to interact with your portfoli**o through comments, etc?
 * Do you want your portfolio to be **public or private**?
 * Do you want to be able to **use your own name as your URL** for your portfolio?
 * How do you feel about having **ads** in your portfolio? Some platforms (such as a blog) allow you to avoid ads, but if you use a wiki, the only way to get rid of ads is to pay a fee.
 * I**s your portfolio primarily for employment or is it for documenting your own learning**?
 * What kinds of **artifacts** do you want to include? Which tool presents those in the best way?
 * Which one feels **easiest** for you to use?
 * Which tool **gives you the look that you want**?

Portfolio Comparison Matrix (Wikispaces) || **Google Sites** || (for a fee) || **X** ||  || ($50/year) ||  ||
 * || **Blog** ([|Wordpress.com]) || **Wiki**
 * Upload/embed documents, multimedia (photos, videos, etc.) || **X** || **X** || **X** ||
 * No advertisements || **X** || (Can turn them off for $5/month) || **X** ||
 * Interactivity through built-in commenting || **X** || **X** ||  ||
 * Domain mapping—(Use own name as URL) || **X**
 * Flexibility in organizing information ||  || **X** || **X** ||
 * Password protection || **X** || **X**
 * Attractive design options || **X** ||  || **X** ||

STEP FOUR: Structure
Now it's time to organize your portfolio. Every portfolio should have:
 * A **Welcome Page** that explains the purpose of your portfolio and any other information you want your audience to know up front.
 * **Tips on navigating through your portfolio**, like what Damien did here or like [|Alice Mercer's video introduction] to her portfolio.
 * **Contact Information**--how much you include is up to you. You should include an email address at a minimum, but also consider including your cell phone number, address, and the various places you can be found online, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I would also advise including a photo, although there are obvious pros and cons to doing this for a job search.

Review some of the portfolio samples I've included here to get an idea of different ways to structure a portfolio and table of contents.
 * Additional Sections** (depending on the purpose of your portfolio)
 * A **Biography**
 * **Work Experience/Work History** (for work portfolio)
 * **Educational credentials and background**
 * **Competencies**--this is particularly important if your occupation has pre-defined competencies. For example, teaching, medical professions, etc. usually have pre-defined competency frameworks. You can set up your portfolio to demonstrate your proficiency in each of these competency areas.
 * **Personal Philosophy/Beliefs Statement**--Required in some professions, this gives you a chance to explain your approach to your work, your beliefs about your profession, you personal work values, etc.
 * **Personal Strengths**--Are you responsible? Detail-oriented? A visionary thinker? Do you have exceptional team leadership abilities? Consider having a section of your portfolio with artifacts that document your best talents.
 * **Achievements/Credentials**
 * **Volunteer work**
 * **Conference Presentations**
 * **Projects--**Examples of projects that you've either led or in which you played a key role. If appropriate, try tying your projects back to your competencies.
 * **Class Assignments** (for school portfolios only)


 * IMPORTANT!!**--As you're setting up your portfolio, **make sure that your most important information is only a few clicks away**. You don't want to make anyone have to search for your best stuff!

STEP FIVE: Create!
Now it's time to put your portfolio together. How you do that will depend on the tool you select. Below are resources to help you create portfolios using [|Wordpress], and [|Google Page Creator].

If you decide to use Wikispaces, after you sign up for your account and name your wiki, you can access their step-by-step instructions. You can also [|access instructions I created for using Wikispaces here] (and check out how Scribd looks at the same time).

[|Video Tutorial on Using Wordpress.com] This is not specific to creating a portfolio. Instead it walks you through the features and steps of setting up, posting, etc. (Note--you may want to open the tutorial up in one tab and then follow the steps in another tab. You can stop the video when you like to take each step and then go back to the video when you're ready to move on.)

[|Google Page Creator Tutorial] This is a PDF document that walks you through the process of setting up an online portfolio using Google Page Creator.


 * Additional Tips**
 * **Write descriptions and provide information to connect the various parts of your portfolio.** Make it easy for people to navigate through your work and understand what you're presenting.
 * **Consider recording a brief introduction to your portfolio**, [|like Alice Mercer's]. You can use free screencasting software like [|Jing] or [|FreeScreencast] to record and embed 5-minute videos of your desktop that allow you to take people on a quick tour of your portfolio. If you do this, you might also want to include some written instructions (like Damien's) for those people who don't want to watch your video.
 * **Be brief**. Consider providing brief snippets or introductions to your work with links to the full project or materials that people can click to if they're interested.
 * Make it **easy to find.** Particularly if you're using your portfolio to job search, it's a good idea to make it likely to be found through popular search engines like Google. **Use lots of keywords** so that if employers search on them they're more likely to find your portfolio. **Make sure you link to related web sites, resources and professional organizations.**
 * Keep it **simple and consistent**. Only include those items that will tell your story most clearly. Don't put in work samples, achievements, etc. that aren't clearly linked to your portfolio's purpose.
 * Use **readable fonts**. Online, it's better to use [|"sans serif" fonts] like Verdana, Arial, etc. Also, make sure that you use the same fonts throughout.
 * **Check for grammatical and spelling errors**. Have someone else go through your portfolio to make sure you didn't miss anything.
 * Try to **keep file sizes small** (under 1MB if possible).

STEP SIX: Share
Once you've created your portfolio, you'll want to begin marketing it, especially if you're using it to sell your professional skills or search for a job. Here are some tips and suggestions. Information on [|domain mapping with Wordpress is here]. In Wikispaces, go to "Manage Space" then "Domain Name."
 * **Buy your name as a domain** (i.e., [|www.michelemartin.com]) and map your portfolio to your name. You can do this with Wordpress (for a fee) and Wikispaces. This way you'll have an easy to remember URL to post on your resume, business cards, etc. Good sites to use to buy and manage domains are [|Bluehost] and [|GoDaddy].
 * **Put links to your portfolio on your blog and social networking profiles** ([|LinkedIn], [|Facebook], [|Ning])
 * Put the **link in your email signature**
 * Print up **personalized business cards** that include a link to your portfolio.
 * Include the link **on your resume**.
 * Use it as a **follow-up after interviews**.
 * **Include a link with online applications** if the application allows for including a website.

Your goal is to get your portfolio to a wide audience and to make it easy for people to share the link with others.

Sample Portfolios
Here are a few different portfolio examples to check out. They can give you ideas on platforms to use, layout, artifacts to include, etc.

[|Laura's Portfolio]

[|An ePortfolio Gallery]

[|Penn State's ePortfolio Gallery] (scroll down for some specific examples)

[| Kane Pickerill's Portfolio]

[|A Graphic Designer's Online Portfolio]

[|A Basic Online Resume]

Resources

 * Here are additional resources for you to access that can help in putting together an online portfolio.**

[|Build a Killer Online Portfolio in 9 Easy Steps - FreelanceSwitch - The Freelance Blog] Some excellent tips here. Note especially how to optimize your "About" page and creating a dedicated "Hire Me" page.

[|Career podcast episode:Building an Online Career Portfolio] 5-minute podcast from an HR recruiter on the importance of an online portfolio. She's also created a sample portfolio using Wetpaint, another free wiki platform.

[|eportfolios' bookmarks tagged with "myportfolio" on del.icio.us] Helen Barrett gives an example of how she created her portfolio by tagging items in delicious, an interesting alternative. If most of your work is online, this could be a good way for you to create your working portfolio.

[|Feature: Manage Your Online Reputation] This article on how to manage your online reputation is a nice complement to thinking through your eportfolio.

[|ThinkFree Online beta] If most of your work is done using MS Office tools, this might be a good way for you to keep all your work samples online in one easy place.

[|Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire] Another free online file hosting service you could use to keep your working portfolio materials online. This one has unlimited space available and lets you upload files of up to 100 MB.

[|The Bamboo Project Blog: Using Del.icio.us to Create an Easy, Always Updated Online Portfolio] Includes instructions on using Delicious to create an online portfolio