Example Assignment 

The goal of the Plan assignment is to establish focus or purpose for your e-portfolio and to brainstorm your initial design ideas. The landing page of this site is all about purpose.

In this assignment, you'll communicate the purpose and design plans for your e-portfolio in a Word document.

E-portfolio Plan Instructions

1. Open a Word document and save it in a folder named e-portfolio in OneDrive. The filename should include firstname-lastname-assignmentname.

2. If you like, have a look at the example E-portfolio Plan (Word doc).

3. Create headings for each required section below.

4. Complete each section, leaving the Overview til the end.

5. Review your work using the assignment rubric.

6. Submit the assignment.

Required Sections

• Overview - orient your audience to the document contents

• Purpose - follow Step 1, Action 1 - Get the big picture & the why

• Inspiration - follow Step 2, Action 2 - Find examples, get inspired

• Communication Strategy - follow Step 3, Action 3 - Create a communication strategy

• Design Ideas - follow Step 4, Action 4 - Design your e-portfolio; then share your design in this section (if you sketched your design, insert pics of the sketches)

• Questions, Thoughts - (optional) share any questions you have about the e-portfolio assignment or any thoughts so far 

Example & Grading (Rubric)

• example E-portfolio Plan (Word doc; PDF)

• grading will be based on the assignment rubric

The goal of this assignment is to bring your vision to life and start creating your website or e-book. 

In this assignment, you'll create your e-portfolio (a prototype, or draft). You must include content related to our course in your prototype (e.g., infographics, blog posts, resources/recommendations).

E-portfolio prototype instructions

1. Follow Step 5, Action 5 - Create a Prototype (Draft) E-portfolio and Step 6, Action 6 - Design your Information

2. Start a new page in your Word document (from the e-portfolio plan assignment) and rename the document, keeping it in the same OneDrive folder named e-portfolio. The filename should include firstname-lastname-assignmentname.

3. If you like, have a look at the example E-portfolio Prototype assignment (Word doc). Per the instructions, you'll find the prototype assignment information on a new page, following my original plan assignment info.

4. Create headings for each required section on the new page of your Word doc.

5. Complete each section, leaving the Overview til last.

6. Review your work using the assignment rubric.

7. Submit the assignment.

Required Sections

• Overview - orient your audience to the Prototype section contents

• Purpose & Audience - describe the updated purpose of your e-portfolio and your intended audience

• Email - draft an email message to your audience with your purpose in mind; introduce & include a hyperlink to your e-portfolio

• Reflection - Briefly describe your experience designing and creating the prototype. Respond to the following prompts: 

1. How does this assignment relate to your learning in the course? And to your career goals?

2. What is it similar to, in your experience?  

3. How is it different from previous learning experiences? 

4. What ideas & inspiration have you taken from others? 

5. What do you hope to get out of this assignment? 

6. Other reflections about your learning & experience of the assignment?

7. We still have time left in the course. What changes to the assignment would you like to see – as a way to enhance (deepen) your learning experience?

• Questions - (optional) share any questions you have about the e-portfolio prototype assignment or any thoughts so far

Example & Grading (Rubric)

• example E-portfolio Prototype assignment (Word doc; PDF)

• grading will be based on the assignment rubric

The main goal of this assignment is for you to experience a professional, forward-focused approach to critiques. You'll take on the role - and mindset - of a coach whose purpose is to support your peer's development & improvement. 

A secondary goal is to gain more in-depth understanding of the assignment itself and to see how others have created their e-portfolio. 

In this assignment, you'll follow a framework to critique (evaluate) a peer's assignment (Word doc) and e-portfolio (website or e-book). That's right, you'll critique the Word doc they have submitted, as well as the e-portfolio prototype itself, their website or e-book.

E-portfolio Peer Critique Instructions

1. You will be matched with a peer for this assignment. Start by downloading your peer's E-portfolio Prototype assignment (Word doc).

2. You're going to add your critique to your peer's E-portfolio Prototype Word doc. Start a new page in your peer's Word document and rename the document, keeping it in the same OneDrive folder named e-portfolio. The filename should include YOUR-firstname-lastname-peer-critique-for-YOUR-PEER's-FULL-NAME.

3. If you like, have a look at the example E-portfolio Peer Critique assignment (Word doc). Per the instructions, you'll find the critique assignment information on a new page, following the example Plan and Prototype info.

4. Create headings for each required section (Critique Overview, Critique Findings, and Feedforward) on the new page of your Word doc.

5. Complete each section, leaving the Overview til last.

6. Review your work using the assignment rubric.

7. Submit the assignment.

Required Sections

• Critique Overview - orient your peer to the Critique. Address your peer directly, using "you", for example. End this section with info about how your peer can contact you if they have any questions or would like to discuss the critique.

• Critique Findings - describe 3 to 5 main findings (at least 2 strengths, and at least one growth area). Follow these  guidelines:

Critique Findings Guidelines

1. 1. Organize your findings into helpful "chunks" with headings. This is not an essay. Combine brief paragraphs with bullet points if possible.

   2. Use language & info from the prototype assignment requirements & rubric to describe your findings.

   3. Be professional, brief, and specific - referring to your peer's content as well as the assignment requirements & rubric.

   4. Avoid excessive praise. You're coaching your peer so that they can improve & develop their e-portfolio.

• Feedforward - select ONE growth area (weakness) of your peer's e-portfolio and use the WRAP framework (Joe Hirsch in The Digital Workspace, 2019). Here's an overview of WRAP:

W = what & where (the “growth area(s)” of the e-portfolio prototype 

R = reason – why does the growth area (weakness) matter?

A = affect (emotion) – what results from the e-portfolio component, what’s its effect on the audience? 

P = prompt creativity or ideas to make positive and productive changes (suggest a way to address the growth area)

Example WRAP statement (with each component labeled in [square brackets]: 

Growth area: Info Design & Formatting – of the “evidence” you share.  

Carly, one area of growth for your work is about providing enough "big picture" and navigation information to your audience. Currently, there is limited orienting information for your audience in the e-portfolio overall and with your content. [W]  Orienting your audience is important because it helps your audience immediately see the main focus or "big picture" before exploring details. [R] If your audience is not oriented to your e-portfolio or even the content you share, they may feel confused or even overwhelmed with having to figure it out themselves. They might not even continue through your website or explore the different sections. [R and A] Moving forward, I think it would be helpful if you took some time to return to your purpose for the e-portfolio and your audience. Consider why you’re sharing it, and why your audience might find your work valuable. Also, you could share it with a relative or friend and just ask them to talk out loud about what they see and what they understand from it. It’s a little uncomfortable at first but you have to have thick skin – remember, they’re doing you a favour by sharing their impressions. This way, you can see your work from an “outsider’s” perspective and make adjustments so that you achieve your goals with the e-portfolio. [P]

Example & Grading (Rubric)

• example E-portfolio Peer Critique assignment (Word doc; PDF)

• grading will be based on the assignment rubric

The goal of this assignment is to update and edit your work, based on 

• the input you received (through the peer critique),

• what you learned by doing a peer critique, and 

• your expanding & every-evolving learning journey.

E-portfolio Final Instructions

1. Download the peer critique that was completed on your behalf (Word doc).

2. You're going to add your E-portfolio Final content to the Word doc. Start a new page and rename the document, keeping it in the same OneDrive folder named e-portfolio. The filename should include firstname-lastname-assignmentname.

3. Create headings for each required section on the new page of your Word doc.

4. Complete each section, leaving the Overview til last.

5. Review your work using the assignment rubric.

6. Submit the assignment.

Required Sections

• Overview - orient your audience to the Prototype section contents

  • Purpose & Audience - describe the updated purpose of your e-portfolio and your intended audience

  • Email - share an updated email message to your audience with your purpose in mind; just as you did earlier introduce & include a hyperlink to your e-portfolio

  • Reflection - Briefly describe your experience in this last phase of the e-portfolio assignment, including the peer critique. Respond to the following prompts: 

1. Describe your takeaways & experience doing the peer critique assignment.

2. Describe your experience being critiqued by a peer - in other words, what did you learn, or take away from their "feedforward"?

3. What changes did you make to your e-portfolio and why? 

4. How did the e-portfolio assignment (as a whole) relate to your learning in the course? And to your career goals?

5. What ideas & inspiration have you taken from others? 

6. What changes to the assignment would you suggest for future students? 

7. Share your final thoughts on the product you created and describe how you plan to use it, moving forward.

• • Questions - (optional) share any questions you have about the e-portfolio prototype assignment or any final thoughts

Example & Grading (Rubric)

• example E-portfolio Final assignment (Word doc; PDF)

• grading will be based on the assignment rubric

Your grade will be based on the criteria for three categories: Content & Language, Info Design & Formatting, and Professionalism. In this section, you'll find details about 

• the weights of each category with some essential, guiding questions, 

• the criteria for each category, and finally, 

• the grade scale.

Here's a PDF of the rubric in table form.

Category Weights

Here are the "weights" of each category as a per cent out of 100, along with a couple of essential questions to ask yourself:

• Content & Language - 50%
  Have I included all of the required content?
  Am I sharing quality content that's trustworthy & informed by evidence trustworthy information?

• Information Design & Formatting - 25%
  Have I designed my information with my audience in mind?
  Do I "orient" them & explain what they'll find & how to find it?

• Professionalism - 25%
  Do I demonstrate professionalism by submitting my work on time?
  Am I ethical - do I indicate the sources of my content using in-text citations & references?

Grading Criteria

And here are criteria for each category:

Content & Language Criteria (50%)

1. includes all required components & content

2. points (claims, statements) are supported by evidence

3. content is tailored to audience & purpose

4. information has a clear structure & is organized

5. content is communicated in plain English, with little or no jargon (any necessary jargon defined)

6. includes a mix of brief paragraphs with lists, bullet points, graphics & word-diagrams

7. uses inclusive language

Information Design & Formatting  Criteria (25%)

1. orients audience overall and to each relevant section (e.g., page) and artefact (e.g., word-diagram, infographic, project)

2. guides audience with signposts (e.g., headings), direction about how to find info & navigation tips

3. text is left justified (aligned) (titles can be centred)

4. interactive elements such as links, buttons, etc. are fully functional

5. content is accessible (e.g., texts formatted as headings, sub-headings; videos & podcasts have subtitles & transcripts; images have alt-text) (Word doc is ADA compliant; digital elements are accessible)

Professionalism Criteria (25%)

1. submitted on time

2. sources indicated with in-text citations & references (APA, if relevant)

3. Word doc, if required

4. suitable, appropriate filename (e.g., yourfirstname-lastname-assignmentname)

Grade Scale

There are four "levels" for each category, following the grade point average system. The levels including the terms used (e.g., highly effective) are aligned with our program assessment standards. In other words, I'm using the same terms and grade scale as other instructors in our program.

Highly effective: 4.0 or 100% = all criteria present 

Effective: 3.0 or 85% = one criterion missing or ineffective

Developing: 2.0 or 75% = two or more criteria missing or ineffective

Ineffective: <2.0 or <75% = three or more criteria missing or ineffective

Caldwell, K. (2022). Accessible, inclusive communication. itchybrain.ca. https://itchybrain.ca/2022/10/30/inclusive-accessible-communication/ 

General Services Administration (GSA). (n.d.). Create accessible, digital products. https://www.section508.gov/create/ 

The Digital Workspace. (2019, September 10). Getting better at giving feedback. [Audio podcast episode]. Leadership. https://thedigitalworkplace.com/podcasts/joe-hirsch/  [Transcript available – click on tab next to Show Notes, under audio player]