Many people think about ePortfolios as pictures of the past – snapshots of the ‘best bits’ that you want others to see so that they’ll give you a job, a promotion, a pay rise. But there’s another view that sees portfolios as a tool to support the lifelong learning process – a space where you can think about the future as well as reflect on the past. A space where you can develop the skills to grow and change, and to continue to learn not only as part of formal education but also as part of your working life. So, if you take on that view, then thinking (and writing down) what you want for the future is absolutely part of what an ePortfolio should be all about.

BTW, Sacha has completed a masters degree but has moved away from academia into a position at IBM. Her blog is a place where she can share what she learns, networks and keeps on track of everything that’s happening in her life. It’s a great example of a blog-based ePortfolio – and it works. She cites it as the main reason she gained her current job! Here’s her approach in a nutshell – and where it has taken her:

Not bad.

If I was to single out one consistent comment that I’ve heard over the past 18 months in relation to ePortfolios, it would have to be this: ‘Yeah, it’s a great idea, and I’d love to have one, but I never get around to it’.

Well, Michelle Martin has come up with a solution for all those people who are struggling just trying to juggle work, family and social commitments, let alone trying to fit in some time to develop an ePortfolio. It’s not fancy, but it does allow you to collect together elements and write a short narrative/reflection around them.

What she’s done is create an ePortfolio using del.icio.us. If you don’t know delicious, you should get to know it – or another social bookmarking site (just google social bookmarking and you’ll find some). I was chatting to a colleague this morning who was surprised to see me talk about delicious in a presentation last week, as he hadn’t heard of anyone else at CSU using it, although he ‘couldn’t live without it’. I agree – without a place to store all the fantastic online resources that I find – from journal and newspaper articles to thought-provoking blog posts – and to tag them so I can find them easily from whatever computer I’m on – I’d be lost. But I’m sure there are many many others out there who find this tool just as delicious as I do…

Anyway, Michelle is simply bookmarking her work, her blog posts, anything that is significant, and ensuring she writes an extended tag to explain that item. Of course, the elements you upload need to be online first. And not subject to ‘link rot’, such as items within a subject site that will be archived in a few months. but if you’re the type of person who wants to keep track of your best blog postings, published work, material available through your own webspace etc, this could be for you.

Like I said, not really pretty, and not really utilising the powers of ePortfolio to their best (reflection is really limited here, as is future planning and linkages between items to help it all make sense) but if you’re looking for a way to collect together the ‘gems’ that you want to show off later, in a very time-efficient way, this could be it.

(BTW, Michelle’s site, The Bamboo Project, is one of my favourite’s in relation to ePortfolios and professional identity. I’ve added it to the blog roll.)

Originally uploaded by spleenboy