EPortfolios are electronic collections that can be used for learning, teaching, or marketing purposes. They contain artifacts and reflections of what an individual has done or learned. Common uses of ePortfolios include marketing oneself for employment by showcasing skills and qualifications, demonstrating a student's progress and mastery of skills over time, and allowing teachers to showcase their development for reviews or new jobs. The author plans to use their ePortfolio to reflect on their learning in a graduate program and potentially as a marketing tool for future employment.

1. Running head: EPORTFOLIOS 1
EPortfolios
Michelle Dyer
Western Oregon University
CSE689 - ePortfolios

2. EPORTFOLIOS 2
EPortfolios
EPortfolios are electronic or digital portfolios that can be used for learning, teaching, or
marketing purposes by an individual or organization. EPortfolios are electronic collections
containing artifacts and reflections. They can be loaded onto CDs, DVDs or thumb drives, but
the best alternative for sharing is to put it on the internet as a webpage. The artifacts in an
ePortfolio can be anything that can show what one has done or learned and can take the form of
pictures, videos, tutorials, papers, reports and more. Each artifact should include a reflection
about it. This reflection gives one a chance to think critically about the artifacts in their
ePortfolio, and really focus on what they learned, the process and their own growth and
professional development. EPortfolios can be a place to not only reflect on what one has done,
but also a place for others to give feedback and comments that can lead to improvement.
One of the most common uses of an ePortfolio is for marketing a person for employment.
Some people think of it as a digital resume, however it is much more than that. It can showcase
skills, qualifications, qualities, and personality. It can be interactive, unlike a standard resume. It
can allow prospective employers to really get to know a candidate. Especially if the candidate
includes a brief introduction video. According to o James M. M. Hartwick and Richard W.
Mason in their article Using Introductory Videos to Enhance ePortfolios and to Make Them
Useful in the Hiring Process “Inclusion of videos in an electronic portfolio has the potential to
bring the candidate to life and to provide examples of the pre-service teacher in action.” Videos
included in an ePortfolio really give prospective employers a chance to see a candidate in action,
and can make a candidate more memorable.

3. EPORTFOLIOS 3
Another common use for ePortfolios is to show progress and learning over time,
demonstrating a mastery of skills, and growth for students. For students, their ePortfolio can
prove that they did not just put in the time required to get a degree, but that they were engaged
and learned to master the skills they need to earn that degree. They can look back and see how
much they’ve learned and how far they’ve come. Others can too. They can also allow others to
give feedback, and suggestions, if they want to, to continue the growth.
Yet another use of ePortfolios is as a tool for classroom teachers. As they grow, learn and
progress, ePortfolios can be a great way to showcase themselves in action in the classroom. They
can use them to give added value to their students by posting tutorials, video lessons that can be
re-visited from home, and tools that can help them succeed. Educators can also use their
ePortfolios to show their continued development for reviews, promotions and new jobs. In their
article, Hartwick and Mason also pointed out that according to Lieberman and Rueter that
ePortfolios “should be a solid reflection of teacher development, quality of teaching, student
learning, and quality teaching process and products, and a selective inclusion of electronic media
can aid in meeting these teaching portfolio goals.” What better way to show continued
improvement than through a ePortfolio kept over time.
I plan to use my ePortfolio to demonstrate and reflect on the learning that I have
accomplished in my MSEd Info Tech program, as my exit requirement. It may also be used as a
marketing tool when I’ve finished my program to demonstrate my skills to future employers.
As my exit requirement from my Graduate program, it will include artifacts from all of
the classes I’ve done throughout my two years at Western Oregon University. It will include
artifacts such as tutorial videos and Powtoons videos that I’ve created, design projects that I have
done, papers I have written. It will also have links to websites that I have created, and classes

4. EPORTFOLIOS 4
that I have designed. It will have information about who I am, what I’ve learned, what my goals
are, and where I am headed. It will demonstrate that I have mastered the tools and learned the
skills that I need in order to work in online programs and instructional design. What I will be
creating in this class is only the beginning of my process. The ePortfolio that I will present in
about 8 months I think of it as my final exam for my entire program.
After I finish my program, I am hoping that I can add to it and this will also help me to
find a job in the field. For the purpose of marketing myself to prospective employers I would add
more information to it about my past experiences and accomplishments. More of the typical
information that you would find on a resume. For that purpose, I would also add contact
information, social media links and such.
I feel like ePortfolios are more of a living document. Something that continues to evolve
over time, as the person who creates them evolves. It’s not a one and done sort of thing. It
wouldn’t be very useful if it was. It should be kept up-to-date, and modern. I’m looking at the
ePortfolio not as something that costs me time and effort, but as an investment in my future.

5. EPORTFOLIOS 5
References
Hartwick, J. M., & Mason, R. W. (2014). Using ePortfolios to Enhance Reflective Learning and
Development. International Journal of ePortfolio, 4(2), 169-184. Retrieved October 28, 2017,
from http://www.theijep.com/pdf/IJEP123.pdf