When creating an ePortfolio, I honestly didn’t explore platforms at all. I spent a fair amount of time at harpanuik.org before committing to the ADL program. I had seen enough podcasts and posts to know that students reflected at the end of the program on how much they wished they had just listened to Dr. H when he recommended selecting a robust platform like WordPress. Upon starting the ADL program, I signed up on WordPress and committed to a year of hosting. I later realized that the Innovation course did not require the development of an ePortfolio yet. Now that I have started the ePortfolio course, I have learned that there may be other hosting options I should have considered. However, since I’d already paid for an annual plan with WordPress, I didn’t want to move to a service like Bluehost purely for financial reasons. I sincerely hope that does not become something I regret moving forward. I am taking Dr. Harapnuik’s (n.d.) advice to “take control of your domain and site and ensure that you can take your work with you” as a critical lesson learned from his experience and professional evolution. I also hope to be one of the exceptions to the statistic cited by Harapnuik (2016), which shows that “many students stop using their eportfolio after the completion of their program of study.”
After reviewing other students’ and professionals’ ePortfolios, I am inspired to continue finding and sharing my voice, passion, and why. Many prior ADL/DLL students left interesting breadcrumbs of tips for succeeding in the program. I feel I have a much better understanding of the ePortfolio’s purpose for the immediate focus of showcasing my progression through the program.
Thoughts on Levi Harapnuik’s page: seeing the evolution and change over time is interesting. On Caleb Harapnuik’s page, the home page and sleekness are breathtaking. Both pages utilize a simplicity that provides a clear focus for each independent purpose. Andre Malan’s undergraduate example page is super simple, with excellent cartoon illustrations. During my review, I found myself searching for more content and learned the Steinfield method for developing a new habit after reading a reflection I seriously need to incorporate concerning my learning reflection writing. Jesse Lee’s portfolio seemed like a collection of blog posts.
From the ADL/DLL examples, Brooke Joseph’s ePortfolio is very colorful and cute. Still, I find some of the backgrounds and floating images too overwhelming for my eye. Once again, I really liked the simplicity of Bridget Gallagher’s ePortfolio. I really like how her homepage summarizes her learning throughout the program. Michelle Little has done a great job reflecting on her experience and organizing her ePortfolio. Once again, I am struck by the simplistic color selections and menu options. Kris Bumstead’s ePortfolio was very engaging throughout through the use of digital storytelling. Rebecca Recco’s ePortfolio has very elaborate navigation panels. I really appreciate how Jordan Roberts’ ePortfolio’s About Me page divides his personal profile from his professional one. That is something I could see myself incorporating in the future. Judy Cornelius has a very well-organized and visually appealing ePortfolio, too. Nancy Watson’s ePortfolio seems so professional that I assumed it was misfiled under ADL/DLL examples. I love that she has a testimonials section. I wonder if I couldn’t create an area for positive student feedback. Testimonials that I genuinely am the advisor that cares.
Roselynn Verwoord’s ePortfolio inspired me to see how a professional portfolio could market and showcase one’s abilities, learning, and accomplishments. Rebecca Lynn Taylor’s portfolio’s organization, clean lines, and color contrast really appeal to me.
Harapnuik, D. K. (n.d.). Examples of ePortfolios. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved April 15, 2022, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=5979
Harapnuik, D. K. (2016, March 8). What if we gave students enough time to learn. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved April 15, 2022, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=6336
The Advisor That Cares 