Creating a Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of work that showcases what an individual can do with a specific focus. Some portfolios are designed to be reflective in nature while others are intended to attract business or land a job. No matter the intent behind a portfolio, there are many ways to create one.
Day 1: Identify Portfolio Elements & Organize Personal Resources
Portfolio Examples
Before creating a portfolio, is it beneficial to view several other people's. In this way, you start to understand the differences in style and layout, while also identifying similarities that are most likely non-negotiables. Take a moment and view the three portfolios linked below. Take notes about each one using the graphic organizer linked here.
Use Zones on the Cleartouch boards to have all three sites up at the same time. Let students come up and answer the following questions and support their answer with evidence from the site(s).
Which of these portfolios looks the most professional?
Which of these portfolios does the best job of showcasing talent?
Which of these portfolios makes you want to learn more about the individual who created it?
Portfolio Contents
What should pre-teacher students include in a digital portfolio?
According to Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence, Copilot, the following are items that you may want to include in your portfolio. Don't panic, the list is long, but you have several years to add to your portfolio so you don't have to add it all at once.
Teaching Philosophy:
Begin with a clear statement of your teaching philosophy. Explain your beliefs about education, student learning, and your role as an educator1.
Use examples throughout your portfolio to demonstrate how your teaching practices align with your philosophy.
Career Summary:
Similar to a resume, provide a detailed career summary. Highlight your educational background, relevant coursework, and any teaching-related experiences (such as student teaching or volunteering).
Include information about certifications, endorsements, and any specialized training you’ve completed1.
Lesson Plans and Units:
Showcase lesson plans or entire units you’ve developed. Include objectives, instructional strategies, assessment methods, and any adaptations for diverse learners.
Attach sample materials, such as handouts, presentations, or multimedia resources1.
Student Work Samples:
Share examples of student work from your teaching experiences. These could be assignments, projects, or assessments.
Reflect on the impact of your teaching on student learning and growth2.
Classroom Management Strategies:
Describe your approach to classroom management. How do you create a positive and productive learning environment?
Include any classroom management plans, behavior charts, or strategies you’ve implemented1.
Reflections and Self-Assessments:
Regularly reflect on your teaching practices. Discuss what went well, what challenges you faced, and how you adapted.
Self-assessments demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement2.
Professional Development:
Highlight any workshops, conferences, or courses you’ve attended. Explain how these experiences have influenced your teaching.
Include certificates, transcripts, or evidence of completion1.
Parent and Student Communication:
Share examples of communication with parents and students. This could be newsletters, emails, or notes home.
Discuss your approach to building positive relationships with families1.
Videos and Multimedia:
Incorporate videos of your teaching in action. Capture moments during lessons, interactions with students, and classroom activities.
Multimedia elements add depth and authenticity to your portfolio1.
References and Letters of Recommendation:
Include letters of recommendation from professors, cooperating teachers, or mentors. These validate your teaching abilities.
Provide contact information for references who can vouch for your skills and character
Organizing Files in Google Drive with the Future in Mind
The longer you are a student at CMCSS, the more files you will have in your Google Drive. It is important to think about what will happen your files after you graduate. There may be items that you want to keep for future reference. One way to do that is to create a folder, or multiple folders that contain your most valued items. When graduation time comes, you will need to export your files to a different location. There are several ways to do this including the steps listed here.
The most important thing to remember is that you won't need all of your files. Having a portfolio can help you determine which files to keep.
Steps to Organizing Google Drive For Beyond Graduation
Create a folder in your Google Drive.
Name the Folder something like "Portfolio for Graduation"
Drag/move any items in your Google Drive that you want to keep after you leave CMCSS into that folder.
Share the folder with your personal google account.
Transfer ownership of the folder to your personal Google account. (test that you can access materials)
You can also download the entire folder to a jump drive, then upload it manually to multiple locations.
One option for taking your Google files with you is to use Google Take-out. Take-out makes it fairly easy to export all of the files you want with a few clicks. One thing to remember is that the files can be very large depending on what you export so do a little research before selecting this option. Also test your results by opening the files from your private account to make sure you have the access you need. Take-out requires external digital storage that can be expensive depending on how big the export. Only selecting the most important files in your Google Drive can help keep the cost low.
Google Take-out Directions from Copilot
Navigate to Google Takeout:
Visit the Google Takeout web page.
Make sure you’re logged in with the Google Account that contains the data you want to export.
Select Services and Data:
By default, Google Takeout selects all possible data and file types for inclusion in the archive.
To customize your export, click “Deselect all” at the beginning of the product list.
Scroll down and find “Google Photos.” Click the checkbox on the right-hand side to select it.
Configure Export Settings:
Choose the file type, frequency, and destination for your archive:
File Type: The default is .zip, which can be opened on most computers. Alternatively, you can choose .tgz, which may require additional software to open on Windows.
Maximum Size: Takeout limits archive files to 2 GB by default, but you can select sizes up to 50 GB.
Delivery Method: Choose where to download the archive file when it’s ready (e.g., your Downloads folder).
Frequency: Decide how often to export the files (e.g., once or every 2 months for 1 year).
Create the Export:
Click “Create export.”
Google will gather the files and create the archive according to your specifications.
Depending on the number and size of files, the archive may take several minutes to several days to generate.
Download the Archive:
Once the archive is complete, Takeout will email you a link to the archived files.
From that email, select “Download Archive” to begin downloading the ZIP file.
Remember that transferring data to cloud storage services (like Google Drive) counts against your storage quota. Google Takeout is a convenient way to move your data from Google’s domain to your own.
Sources:
Prep for Tomorrow
Create a folder in Google Drive, name it something that signifies the purpose, and begin adding files that may be included in a portfolio. Be selective but remember you don't have to use everything you add to the folder.
Make sure the permission on the folder allows anyone to view.
Click "New" - Folder > Name the folder > Right click on the folder > Select Share > Select the General Access options > Select Anyone with the link > Click Done
Day 2: Create a Google Site Portfolio
Create a Google Site
Before beginning to build a portfolio in Google Sites, answer the following questions.
Who will view my portfolio and why?
What elements from the portfolio list will I include?
How will I organize my portfolio?
What elements from other portfolios can I incorporate into mine?
YouTube has many video tutorials showing how to use Google Sites. I've included a few below to get you started.
Use the video tutorial to start your own Google web site.
Log into Drive
Select New > More >Google Sites
Title your page
Begin Editing your site
More ways to work in Google Sites
Use options to control items on page
This is a complete playlist of quick video tutorials about Google sites so you can customize your learning based on your level of need. Watch as many or as few as you want to make your own Google Site amazing.