Transitioning teaching portfolios into the digital domain brings with it practical considerations to integrate multimedia, reflection, and evidence. Using ESL/EFL practitioner samples from WordPress, Google Sites, and Wix, the session presents best practices for creating an online portfolio. The presenters will provide guidance for getting started and additional resources for content curation. This session is intended for teachers and teacher educators who are interested in learning about best practices to present an online professional identity, either for employment, professional networking, or scholarship.

1. Best Practices in Curating Online
Teaching Portfolios
Erin O’Reilly & Kara Mac Donald
TESOL 2019

2. Rationale for Developing an ePortfolio
● Why an ePortfolio?
● Supports professional development and reflective practice
● Secure record of appraisal discussions, an ongoing personal development plan, workplace
assessments, and reflection on learning events
● Why move from hard copy to digital?
● Provides Enduring Continuity
● Offers Easy Mobility
● Free and Reproducible
● Searchable and Instantly Available
● Enables Collaboration
● A ‘Live’ Resource

3. Respondents: Do you Have an ePortfolio?
● 9 Countries (US and South
Korea largest response rate)
● Captured all ELT practitioners:
Students, Teachers, Private
Consultants, Retirees, Etc.

4. Current Practice in the Field
● Majority reported a self-initiated
project (60%)
● Structured professional
development activity was 2nd
most frequently reported
mechanism (13%)
● Only 10% of employers required
an ePortfolio - Surprising
Is an ePortfolio required by your employer?

5. Design
● Think about organization - use database design hierarchies, what will the
reader expect to find, where?
Consider: EPortfolio as evidence for lifelong learning: Writings, reflections,
photographs, engagements, rejections, etc. - Your authentic self as a
practictioner in the field
Standardized, eportfolio - High-stakes, employment

6. What do you include?

7. Professional Competencies - Screen shot?
Professional
Competencies

8. Transformation & Growth
● All efforts to improve teaching
● Curricular revisions
● Innovations in teaching
● Evidence of student learning
○ (Writing drafts)
● Short and long term goals
Describe, analyze, and evaluate your own work~

9. Growth screen shots
In-depth reflection of
multiple projects over time

10. Examples of Student Success
● Students who have succeeded in your field
● Before and after test scores
● Student publications, conference
presentations, projects prepared under your
mentorship

11. Applied Professional Growth
● Formal or informal training or professional development
● How have you put new learning into practice? (e.g., this conference!)
○ New technology, new lesson plans
○ New teaching requirements, new resources
○ Formal course or conference, your reflections and integration

12. Getting Started - Online Platforms
The platform for your e-portfolio -
● A variety for tech-savvy to novice tech users
○ Some examples-
Blogger
Weebly
Wix
Wordpress
Google Sites
LinkedIn
Institute’s Website
Personal Domain Website

13. Parting Thoughts
● Leaders in the field advocated for professional portfolios back in 2001
(Bailey, Curtis, & Nunan)
● Why do we use portfolios with our students, but not ourselves?
● The ELT field is changing: How do our professional activities need to
change?
Future Inquiry:
○ Need direct evidence of how having an online presence is beneficial
○ How do ELT professionals talk about and share their online identities?
○ How do ELT professionals model and support online professional identities to peers?
○ How do ELT professionals initiate and cultivate the development of an online professional
identity over a career?

14. Helpful Resources
Cambridge, Darren. (2010). Eportfolios for lifelong learning and assessment.
San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass.
Seldin, P., Miller, J.E., Selding, C. (2010). San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass.