Getting Started with my ePortfolio

Here are 3 key takeaways from starting my ePortfolio for the DLL program.

1: Maintain a Growth Mindset

In my previous class, we learned about the growth mindset and it has been crucial for me to keep this in mind as I continue through the DLL program. In a traditional course, a student might expect to complete an assignment, turn it in, get a grade and move on. Likely in this setting, nobody would see your assignment but you and the professor. In contrast, the DLL program follows the COVA model and I as the student am being asked to create authentic work and publish it online for the world to see. Rather than get hung up on the idea of having my reflections open to the public, I have had to embrace a growth mindset and remember that part of being a leader is owning your own journey. For more on this topic read Making Meaningful Connections in An Eportfolio by D. Harapnuik.

2: Keep it Real

a learner’s digital evidence of meaningful connections

Harapnuik, D. (n.d.). What is an ePortfolio Retrieved from.
http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=5977

In his post, Harapnuik describes the minimalist definition of an ePortfolio and points to where additional information can be found. The word that resonated with me was “learner’s” because this ePortfoio is MINE. It then should reflect not just my learning but my personality. It is not a scholarly journal so in creating my ePortfolio I need to use my “voice” (see COVA model for more details) and create a site that I will be inclined to sustain beyond the DLLMaster’s program. One major way to make sure I do this is for me to be invested in the blogging platform I chose and to start with a navigational structure that is scalable.

3: Learn from those who have gone before

While the ePortfolio is new to me, it is not a new idea. I am grateful to have been given Getting Started Tips and How to Create Your ePortfolio by Harapnuik in addition to a list of examples from other students who previously completed the DLL program. In addition to these posts, the University of Waterloo was an indispensable resource as I planned my ePortfolio. In browsing all of these sites I decided to include the following items on my site’s main menu:

• Blog (as my Homepage)
  • with categories that align with the DLL program and other popular topics I plan to write about
• About Me & Resume
  • A brief conversational bio throughout felt right to me with my resume and formal biography on a separate page
• Portfolio of Work
  • This drop-down will not only lead to items relevant to my DLL ePortfolio but also to my other relevant work in education.
• Networks & Resources
  • an annotated list of my go-to professional learning communities and favorite online resources plus a reflection on how I currently utilize these networks.
• Contact
  • because who knows when someone will want to offer me the opportunity of a lifetime.
  • plus in this day and age, we all know social media links need to be easy to find and located throughout the site