Preparing a strong eFolio site can be summed up with one overarching process word: curate! That word means "to pull together, sift through, and select for presentation." If that's a new word in your vocabulary, no problem! We will unpack the steps over the next several posts as we help you discover the process for finding existing content items (also known as artifacts) or creating content to add to your eFolio site.
Today's focus is on COLLECTING content -- creating or gathering digital items together. Much of your content is available for use already -- you simply need to find it and prepare it for the Web where others will view your eFolio. |
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Just think! You don't have to be an expert in Web programming to create your eFolio. The team at myeFolio makes it work through various field-based content forms, upload tasks and design options. It is not much different than using some email systems. And, if you have the ability to prepare HTML script or hyperlinks, you can showcase those skills throughout your site.Good Practices when Collecting Potential Content
- All the content items (artifacts) you collect should serve the purpose of demonstrating a skill, competency, learning experience or significant aspect of your life.
- You should collect a wide range of artifacts so you have many options from which to choose.
- Many artifacts are acquired from your education, training, or work experience; some will come from everyday experiences in your life.
- Your instructor(s) will provide you with class or program expectations and requirements if completing an eFolio is part of your assessment.
- When collecting artifacts, include a brief explanation about why you chose it.
- Add some reflection narrative about the experience associated with the artifact while it is fresh in your mind -- you can expand your comments later.
- Group your artifacts in a way that makes sense to you.
There are some generally accepted content types that people often include as they begin to work on their site pages. You might consider the following checklist as a starting point:
| Completed? | Content Item | Description or Purpose |
| Welcome | Summarize who you are; preview some of what can be found in your eFolio site. Give viewers a sense of who you are; help them know what you value. | |
| Professional goal statement | Write a statement summarizing your goals. To be meaningful, any goals included in your statement should be as specific as possible. | |
| Assignments or work samples | This information is as diverse as your background. Upload articles, papers, group projects, reports and publications so viewers can see your abilities. Content can include computer graphics, audio, video, hyperlinks, Web content and social media. | |
| Surveys | Include a survey link to ask your audience for their feedback/opinion of your work. | |
| Academic awards and honors | Scan and upload certificates of awards, honors and scholarship letters. | |
| Education | Add degrees, certifications, and licenses as well as significant courses. | |
| Additional education | List conferences, seminars, workshops and other learning opportunities you have participated in. | |
| Volunteer and extracurricular activities | List your activities; illustrate them with a photo. Don't forget community service projects, musical performances, sports, drama or campus clubs. | |
| Internship and work experience | Include details about the employer, place of employment, your position and specific work activities you performed. | |
| Résumé or curriculum vitae | Summarize your education, achievements, and work experience. Add details such as your skills. | |
| References | List three to five people who have agreed to talk about your strengths, abilities and experience. Be sure to include full contact information for each one. | |
| Letters of recommendation and testimonials | Include formal or informal evaluations received from employers, clients, professors, or colleagues; military records; awards and badges. | |
| Program-specific forms | Program faculty may require the completion of customized forms to collect evidence and learning reflections for assessment purposes. |
Note: Work or project samples you choose to include do not have to represent your "best work" or received a top score. It is often better to showcase your learning "over time" by showing what you can do today compared to what you were able to accomplish before. The eFolio setting gives you the opportunity to add context (in a later step) so you can weave the experience of improvement into your presentation.
In the next post, you will learn more about content preparation to make sure items in your COLLECTION will display well on the Web.
Take Action: Start finding what you already have and create what you need.