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 How should you get started creating your ePortfolio?
The following is a list of some general strategies on developing a portfolio:
- Remember, you need to start as early as possible.
- Plan well and systematically collect data.
- Develop a good filing system.
- Regularly sort through, organize, and update information.
- Involve others as consultants and contributors.
Followings are the Phases of Portfolio Development.
 Phase One: Determine the purpose/type of your Portfolio
The most important phase of creating a portfolio. You will need to decide on the purpose and type for the portfolio.
Ask these questions to yourself: Why am I creating a portfolio? What am I trying to show with my portfolio?
- Will it be part of a graduate school or post-graduate study admission packet? Are there outcomes, goals, or standards that are being demonstrated with this portfolio? (Assessment - Standards Based Portfolio)
- Will you use it for an employment interview? Are there skills that are being demonstrated with this portfolio for job interview purposes? (Career - Employment Portfolio)
- Does it include information specific to a particular course with syllabi, course materials, sample assignments, and an explanation for the rationale behind the assignments, and how your teaching methods and your course materials help students learn? (Course Portfolio)
- Will you use it for promotion or job expansion? Does it describe and document multiple aspects of your teaching ability? (Teacher Portfolio, Principal Portfolio etc.)
- and so on...
(Please consult your teacher/advisor/faculty on selecting the type of portfolio, if building one is a program graduation requirement!)
 Phase Two: Collection / Selection
This process involves the collection of meaningful artifacts and products reflecting your experiences and goals. The essentional question on this phase is: What artifacts will you include in your portfolio? Decisions must be made at this phase about the context and contents of the portfolio based upon the intent and purposes identified for it. Before jumping into uploading your artifacts on your ePortfolio, use a simple table to list the artifacts, and assign (classify) each one to the outcome/goal/standard that the artifact will demonstrate.
 Phase Three: Reflection
Reflection is the heart and soul of a portfolio! Reflection provides the rationale for why these artifacts represent achievement of a particular outcome, goal or standard.Wherever possible, there should be evidence of your metacognitive reflections upon the learning process and monitoring of your evolving comprehension of key knowledge and skills. While there are already specific questions that are given to you for the reflection, the general idea is
- A brief explanation of how your experiences have shaped you to develop skills related to the standards/skills.
- Give insight into your point of view concerning this standard/skills.
- A self-evaluation of your proficiency related to this standard/skills. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- A professional goal related to this standard/skills that you have for the future
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