This is an edited and final version of the previous draft

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Runninghead:ELECTRONICPORTFOLIOS
Electronic Portfolios
Emily Reno
Western Oregon University
CSE 689
November 2018

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ELECTRONICPORTFOLIOS
Most everyone in the educational and professional spheres is familiar with the idea of a
portfolio. A portfolio allows one to create a collection of their learning and display their skills
and strengths in a variety of contexts. Such milestones as preparing for a job interview, or
entrance into, or exit from a professional education program, has traditionally involved the
creation of both a resume and a portfolio; which one would physically carry with them. Today
however, the way in which we can share our achievements is evolving, and the use of an
electronic portfolio is becoming more common place.
Electronic, or e-portfolios essentially serve the same purpose as a traditional physical
portfolio; and can even encompass the resume as well- to create a rounded showcase of an
individual. However, because the content is digitized, much more variety is possible. The
inclusion of such things as videos, photos, and external links make the digital version of a
portfolio much more encompassing; and potentially more reflective of that which an individual is
striving to present about themselves. Because of the vast potential for variety, it is important to
note that there are several different types of e-portfolios. Kimball (2003) defined four types of
portfolios, “working, academic, presentation, and professional” (p. 7). The working e-portfolio is
essentially a work in progress, where students might begin collecting and reflecting on their
work, before eventually honing in on specific skills, strengths, or works- to create one of the
other three types. The e-portfolio created in this course may be considered this type. Academic
portfolios would typically be tied to specific courses, or education programs. These offer the
student a method of displaying their learning, and the teacher a practical way to assess the
learning. For example, in an Internet for Educators class I took, the ongoing assignment was to
add educational resources related to my content area, to an e-portfolio, based on the various
types of resources learned about in the course. A presentation portfolio is slightly different, in

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that it tends to focus on showcasing a very specific skill or topic. A possible example may be a
photography student creating a presentation portfolio about their own landscape photography.
Lastly, the professional portfolio is strictly related to career and job-seeking. This type could be
thought of as marketing yourself to potential employers. As an educator, mine might include a
link to a geography education resource page I created, copies of lesson plans, and other work
samples. In the near future, I mainly see myself using e-portfolios in two possible ways: a
presentation type for my graduate school exit requirement, and or a professional type for seeking
employment in the field of education.
Because there are different types of e-portfolios, and different uses for them, there is
some variability as to what should be included in one. Generally, however, most sources
(Goshen College, n.d.; Hovis, 2017; Oberpeul, n.d.) will concur on some basic components.
These include a biography and welcome page, educational background, professional background
and resume, contact information, awards/honors/special experiences, and evidence of
competencies-including artifacts and reflections on why they are meaningful. There are various
types of artifacts which can be embedded into an e-portfolio, offering viewers a convenient and
easily accessible method of browsing one’s work. Some different types of artifacts include:
images, videos, presentations, documents, websites, blogs, and different types of audio such as
music or podcasts. The artifact should be accompanied by a brief description, which should
include a reflection on the meaningfulness of the artifact. In other words, one should explain why
they have chosen to include each artifact. Essentially, regardless of the type or purpose of an e-
portfolio, an individual should strive to show who they are, and showcase their skills as relevant
to the purpose of the e-portfolio.

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The use of e-portfolios today is beneficial regardless of the type used, or the context in
which they are used. According to Miller and Morgaine (2009), the many benefits of the use of
e-portfolios in education is that they,
“provide a rich resource for both students and faculty to learn about achievement of
important outcomes over time, make connections among disparate parts of the
curriculum, gain insights leading to improvement, and develop identities as learners or as
facilitators of learning” (p. 8).
In other words, e-portfolios can guide the entire process of teaching and learning. In the context
of the professional world, an article by Watty and McKay (2017) suggests that employers feel an
e-portfolio can add depth to the recruitment process. Benefits of e-portfolios identified by
employers include: getting a “feel” for and in depth understanding of the applicant, a body of
evidence pertaining to employability, and revealing much about applicants that would not be
possible in a traditional resume and interview. (Watty & McKay, 2017).
Overall, there are multiple uses for e-portfolios, a huge variety as to the content that can
be included, and many benefits to their use across multiple contexts. Though the evolution of
digital tools has changed how we might develop a portfolio, these changes have benefits as to the
depth that can be portrayed in showcasing the learning, skills, and employability of an
individual. Developing the skill of creating an e-portfolio is immensely beneficial.

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References
Goshen College. (n.d.). What to Include in your Eportfolio. Retrieved from
https://www.goshen.edu/careers/eportfolio-what-to-include/
Kimball, M. A. (2003). The web portfolio guide: Creating electronic portfolios for the
web. New York, NY: Longman.
Hovis, S. (2017, July 12). 6 Essential Components Every ePortfolio Needs. Retrieved
from https://info.portfolium.com/blog/6-essential-components-every-eportfolio-
needs
Miller, R., & Morgaine, W. (2009). The Benefits of E-portfolios for Students and Faculty
in Their Own Words. Peer Review, 11(1), 8-12.
Oberpeul, H. (n.d.). Put The "Pro" In Professional: Create An ePortfolio. Retrieved from
https://grad.uc.edu/student-life/news/eportfolios.html
Watty, K., & McKay, J. (2017, February 02). EPortfolios: What employers think.
Retrieved from https://globalfocusmagazine.com/eportfolios-what-employers-
think/