Portfolios can be used for different purposes. In this exercise you will find out which kind of portfolio is usually used to showcase your abilities and soft skills to potential employers. In a digital world it is advisable to create your portfolio in a digital format. By designing your e (= electronic) Portfolio appealingly, you already demonstrate your soft skills creativity and initiative additional to your digital competences. You may submit an ePortfolio when you apply for a job, internship or apprenticeship position or even present it at an interview. But before you do that, you need to reflect about what exactly you would like to add to your ePortfolio and how you wish to structure your content.
Step 1 – Find out, what an ePortfolio is
Your first task is to collect information about the topic ePortfolio and how it is used to showcase your soft skills and your achievements so far. For this exercise you will use Padlet, an online tool that works like a pinboard.
Create a free Padlet account, by using the “sign up for free”-button on the website.
Give your Padlet a name and start gathering interesting bits and pieces you find in the internet about the topic ePortfolio: What is it? For which different purposes is it used? What should it contain to be used for applications? How can it be deigned well? What is a modern standard for ePortfolios? Maybe also bad examples: how it should not look like?
Step 2 – Plan and select content for your ePortfolio
Examples for content: description and analysis of different files or documents, e.g. as internship or research documentation or to prove own competences, resumé, reflection on the work or learning process, photos, videos, work samples, awards or certificates. Ask your teacher or parents for support of the selection.
Step 3 – Structuring
Think about how you want to present your ePortfolio. An ePortfolio is like building a website about yourself. Arrange the content in order and consider which parts you would like to show first, which next etc. to meet the requirements of your future job, internship etc. Maybe you draw a sketch of it on paper first.
Show your Padlet on the topic ePortfolio to your classmates by presenting it in a short 5 minute oral or virtual presentation.
Background information and teaching material for guiding your students through the exercise or offering it in your classroom
About Padlet:
About ePortfolio:
