Reflection on the Creation of an e-Portfolio

The creation of an e-Portfolio, like most tasks that involve self-reflection, identification of skills and expertise, and clear communication to a targeted audience is nothing short of a difficult task.

However, in the end, I come away from an engaging learning experience with "a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user." 

The e-Portfolio I created, is themed Technology and Career Development. I understand, through this exercise, that using an e-Portfolio positions yourself in a vastly different (enriched) way then merely using surface features on a social media sites such as LinkedIn. 

At the onset of the project I set personal expectations for myself, beyond what the course structure called for. Of interest, a key component that I have not yet incorporated into my e-Portfolio is combining Blogger with Google Sites or linking announcements to my home page. 

While I did succeed at incorporating Voki with the e-Portfolio, in the end, I did not find it to match the context of my site. Experience was gained, however, it will have to be re-used at a later date. Another discovery or new experience for me was utilizing Snagit to record and post my webinar. Snagit uploads directly to YouTube which in turn syncs quite easily with Google Sites. 

Each aspect, or section in the e-Portfolio served to be a unique learning experience. From gathering data to create the "Opinions" piece, to writing about my life and career experience. They either challenged my technical skills or my research and writing abilities. Tasks requiring diligence pay off in the form of inner satisfaction and a enhanced skill set. 

My recommendation is that, whatever your occupation, you consider using an e-Portfolio as a means of utilizing technology to extend your exposure to possible employers or business partners. Given our current societal structure, this is indeed a 21st century skill, and one that will position you in a innovative light. Go above and beyond!

Disseminating Your Opinion

In my last post I compared the creation of content to art. However, my excitement, when creating content still leaves moments of trepidation when I share my treasured "art" with others. This post will share my reflections on the topic of disseminating my opinion to a virtually unidentifiable audience.

My first suggestion, identify an active group or discussion forum to share your opinion to. Once you have overcome any inner challenge of making your first post, to a targeted audience group (or forum), the learning process would be greatly enhanced if the audience provided feedback. 

Robin Good, an independent new media publisher, talks about how people should curate topics they are passionate about. This is a principle I adhered to when creating my opinion piece, and I hold to this thought process during all stages or instances of content development. 

Having an engaging audience to share my work with should have been the first step in this project, however, it was my last. My recommendation is that one observes a forum first, before posting, and notes the level of engagement from the existing participants. 

The writer should also share, through commenting on some of the writings from other participants, first, before posting his/her own thoughts. In this way, the writer has (hopefully) built rapport with the audience, before expecting others to interact with the new discussion he/she begins. 

The next key step, in the process, is having a viable base of information from where to support ones opinion(s). In this case, the course I was involved in provided ample resources to which I could link, and in doing so affirm my opinions. The other option is having a firm understanding of the broad topic: effective online searching. 

Finally, Lucid Chart remains my favorite for the creation of mind maps - keeping in mind that a picture is worth a thousand words, and one can provide distinctive branding to his/her articles through the creation and incorporation of their own visuals. 

In the end, press forward with bravery and express yourself. Enjoy!

Creating Content

The creation of content through research and sharing of ideas, intrinsic to each person, is akin to the creative expression of art. The canvas is blank and the artist paints, as he/she sees fit. 

In a recent course I completed, part of my assignment was developing and conducting a 20 minute webinar, the topic: Digital Literacy and Finding Employment. Being a self proclaimed technologically savvy person there were still key challenges I encountered during this process. 

First, keep in mind the key differences between in-person delivery of content and online sharing. Concepts pertaining to audience engagement vary from traditional facilitation styles, and this must be taken into account. 

Second, my inclination is that ones ability to design the template and incorporate graphics and images in a visually appealing manner is paramount to success (defined as engaged learners). Think: "would I lose some my target audience by showing poorly prepared slides."

These were the three key influencers, or steps I took, when developing the webinar:

- The canvas is blank, how/what do I express?

- Where should my paradigm of content delivery shift, now that I am delivering online?

- Design, design, design - it should "wow" the viewer. 

In the end, I was satisfied with the outcome, and believe that I met my expectations, and more importantly, that of the viewers. That being said, rehearse, rehearse rehearse. I was surprised by how often transitions or wording got out of order and needed to be rearranged.