CLICK HERE: TAKING OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LEARNING & EPORTFOLIO
Course: Fall 2024 Applying Educational Technology: Portfolio EDLD-5303
Collaborators: Khelia Olison Williams, Nadia Flores, and Ennija Armour
Taking Ownership of Your Learning and ePortfolio
Instructions: Review the ePortfolios from previous students and at least one other ePortfolio from the different sections. Discuss your thoughts and what you have learned from these examples with your classmates.
Previous Students
Brook Joseph https://bjosephs6.wixsite.com/teachingincolor/project09
Ladonna Green https://ladonnagreen123.wixsite.com/website
Academic Professional
Wesley Fryer https://wesfryer.com/
What from the others inspires you?
How do the examples help you measure your own growth in the process?
What changes do you now want to try or edits do you want to make to improve your own ePortfolio?
Ennija Armour
Brook Joseph’s ePortfolio has always been such an inspiration to me! It’s colorful and vibrant, and it feels like a true reflection of who she is. There’s something about the way she weaves her personality into every corner of her portfolio that just draws me in. Her desire to keep color in education really speaks to me too—especially because I’ve always believed in helping students stay their most authentic selves, even when the sterility of strict expectations and environments surrounds them. Brook’s approach reminds me that we can still bring creativity and personality into our professional spaces.
Seeing so many finished ePortfolios, especially hers, motivates me to keep pushing forward with my own. As someone who loves learning and is committed to being a lifelong learner, I know that my ePortfolio will constantly evolve, just like I will outside of it. It’s comforting to know that my portfolio can grow alongside me, always representing the current version of who I am.
That being said, while I’m pretty happy with what I’ve created so far, I do feel like my ePortfolio could be more cohesive. Right now, it feels like a true reflection of my bubbly personality (and my ADHD!)—which is great—but I’m starting to crave a more minimalistic vibe. I think a simpler design would make it easier to navigate and easier on the eyes, helping visitors focus more on the content rather than getting overwhelmed by the energy of the layout.
I’m excited to see how it will transform as I continue refining it, but I’m also embracing the fact that, just like me, it’s a work in progress!
Nadia Flores
I completely agree with you Brook Joseph’s ePortfolio is so inspiring! I love how her personality shines through every aspect of her site. It’s colorful, vibrant, and engaging, and you can really feel her passion for education. I also appreciate how she brings creativity into the professional space. Like you, I believe it’s important for our work to reflect who we are and to help students embrace their authentic selves. I totally get where you're coming from about wanting your ePortfolio to be more cohesive. It’s great that it reflects your bubbly personality, but simplifying the design could definitely help visitors focus more on the content. I’m in a similar place with my own ePortfolio. While I love creativity, I’m thinking about how to streamline it so it’s easier to navigate. It’s comforting to hear you say that your ePortfolio will grow alongside you because I feel the same way! I think the evolution of our portfolios is a reflection of our growth as educators and learners. I’m excited to see how yours continues to evolve, and I’m sure it’ll be amazing, especially as you refine it!
Khelia Olison Williams's response
Ennija, great minds think alike !! Brooke Joseph's e-portfolio was one of the first examples Dr. H showed us, and I was impressed by the attention to detail, color scheme, and vibrant design. It was intimidating because, at that point in the program, I had no idea how to create a website or what was expected of my e-portfolio. Anyone who likes bright, vibrant colors will love it, primarily because she teaches young children it goes well. Her e-portfolio is set up to be super user-friendly, and you don't have to hunt for her work samples. One thing I appreciate about her portfolio is that there's a motivating meme, statement, or quote on every page, which makes you want to keep exploring and understanding her educational platform and purpose better.
Khelia Olison Williams's
@Ennija and @Nadia, you must check out Ladonna Greens's portfolio! It's more geared towards the health and wellness of children in her district. It has nice photos, a clean text font, and is easy to follow. The main thing that was eye-catching to me was her blogs. Her blogs were so personal; she talked about her childhood trauma, anxiety, and even her birthday. She discussed how she practices self-care. She poured herself into her blog posts and made them personable, which I liked. Even though it's a professional platform, it gives you an insight into who she is outside of a professional setting, which I appreciate because you only come across that a little. That is one thing that inspires me to try to improve my blog - to open up a little bit more, be a little bit more personable, and show my personality in my blog posts to make that connection with the reader. I think it will help the viewer understand the passion and purpose behind my innovation plan. Another highlight of her e-portfolio is how she blogs about taking Dr. H's class and switching her e-portfolio platform from WordPress to Wix. Having to start over resonated with me because I had to switch from Google Sites to Wix. Everyone has a horror story about building and starting their e-portfolios!
Nadia Flores
After reviewing several ePortfolios, I was especially inspired by Ladonna Green’s For the Health of It! Her site stood out with its clear organization, vibrant design, and the personal touch she added to her work. It was evident that Ladonna not only focused on showcasing her professional achievements but also made her ePortfolio an engaging and interactive experience for visitors. I found myself drawn to the way she seamlessly blended professional content with creative elements, making the site both informative and visually appealing. This has given me ideas on how I might enhance the design and interactivity of my own ePortfolio.I often get so wrapped up in building my ePortfolio that I forget to explore what others are doing. Diving into these examples opened my eyes to new possibilities. Viewing other portfolios reminded me that this platform is not only a way to showcase my work but also an opportunity to reflect on my journey and present my educational philosophy in a way that resonates with others. My ePortfolio focuses on innovating and integrating iPads and QR codes into the library to improve students' digital access and engagement. After seeing what Ladonna and others have accomplished, I realize that I can do more to make my ePortfolio more interactive and engaging for visitors. Drawing inspiration from resources like the We Are Teachers guide on building teaching portfolios, I plan to streamline my navigation to ensure that viewers can easily explore the content. This aligns with the advice from the guide, which highlights the importance of a well-organized layout that enhances user experience. Additionally, the guide emphasizes the use of multimedia, such as images and videos, to make portfolios more dynamic and engaging for the audience (We Are Teachers). Incorporating visuals, such as video demonstrations of the QR code and iPad integration in action, will not only make my portfolio more engaging but will also provide a clearer representation of my work, just as Ladonna effectively used visuals to support her content. These changes will not only improve the user experience but will also make the ePortfolio a more powerful tool for communicating my ideas and growth. In addition, Brook Joseph's Teaching in Color ePortfolio immediately caught my attention with its vibrant design and strong organization. The use of bold colors and multimedia elements, like videos and images, made the site engaging and reflective of her teaching style. The We Are Teachers resource also stresses the value of blending creativity with professionalism (We Are Teachers), and Brook’s work has inspired me to do the same. I plan to add more creative visual elements to ensure that my ePortfolio reflects both my passion for using iPads and QR codes in the library and my professional goals. In conclusion, exploring these other ePortfolios has been a valuable learning experience. It has helped me measure my own progress and given me fresh ideas for improving my ePortfolio. I’m excited to continue developing my work, making it a true reflection of my passion for using technology to enhance learning in the library.
Ennija Armour Response
Nadia, Your plan to incorporate more multimedia, like videos of QR code and iPad integration in action, sounds amazing! That will add more interactivity and make your work more accessible to your audience. I relate to your reflection about getting so wrapped up in building your ePortfolio that it’s easy to forget to explore others. I had the same realization recently when I was reworking my learning philosophy and innovation plan. Like you, I realized that seeing other portfolios, especially LaDonna’s, opened my eyes to how much our backgrounds and experiences shape us as educators—and how our portfolios should reflect that.
I also really appreciate your idea of streamlining the navigation on your site. I’ve been thinking a lot about making my ePortfolio more cohesive, ensuring that it aligns with my Blended Learning Framework. It’s funny how something like viewing other portfolios can push you to reflect on your own. I’m excited to see how your ePortfolio evolves and becomes an even stronger reflection of your innovative work with technology in the library!
Ennija Armour Response
Y’all, I have to agree—I love LaDonna’s ePortfolio! I’m not sure how I ever overlooked it or missed it in the list of references, but I’m so grateful you both pointed it out to me. It’s so smooth and seamless, and it’s refreshing to see something a little less common being highlighted. Her approach stands out, not just in its design but in the depth and authenticity she brings to each section.
After exploring her ePortfolio, I’ve identified a few more key opportunities for growth on my own. One of the things that resonated with me is how her ePortfolio is a reflection of her multifaceted identity, not just as an educator but as a person. LaDonna speaks so openly about different aspects of her life, and it opened my eyes to how intertwined our personal experiences are with our roles as educators and students.
Dr. Harapnuik’s learning philosophy emphasizes the importance of taking ownership and leadership in our learning. I see this clearly in LaDonna’s approach, where she brings together her journey, educational philosophy, and professional accomplishments cohesively and authentically. Her ePortfolio is a reminder that who we are—our backgrounds, values, and experiences—inevitably shapes who we are as educators. We need to let this be reflected in our ePortfolios. Our unique identities are part of our story, and by sharing that, we give others a deeper understanding of how we approach teaching and learning.
I’m now more committed to ensuring that my ePortfolio reflects not just my professional growth, but also the personal elements that make me the educator I am. It’s so powerful to see the connections between our lives and our work, and I think it’s something that can deeply resonate with others.
Khelia Olison Williams's Response
Wesly Fryer's e-portfolio is noticeably different from an ADL student's portfolio due to his professional background. One standout feature is the inclusion of TED Talk videos, in which he served as the guest speaker. Fryer effectively blends personal elements into his platform by connecting all his social media platforms. While the visual appeal of his professional portfolio could be improved, it does have interesting and helpful content like handouts, video lessons, and a map showcasing his travels to 22 countries. Even though I prefer a more visually engaging design, I must acknowledge the abundance of valuable information in his e-portfolio, providing a peek into his passion and educational philosophy. This experience of exploring e-portfolios outside the ADL program reaffirms Haarupinik's claim that the ADL program promotes learner choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning by developing and utilizing a personal or professional portfolio. ADL students effectively document and share all facets of their authentic projects with their peers and learning communities through their ePortfolio Harapnuik (2024).
Nadia’s Response
Khelia,I agree with your points on Wesly Fryer's eportfolio. His background as a speaker and educator is clear in the way he incorporates his TED Talks and other multimedia, which adds a personal touch. It’s interesting that while his design might not be as visually appealing as some others, the content still provides valuable insights into his work and passions. This shows that even though visuals can enhance engagement, the substance of an e-portfolio is crucial. The ADL program definitely encourages us to develop portfolios that reflect our personal and professional growth, just like Fryer does in his own way. I also like how you mentioned Harapnuik’s focus on learner choice, ownership, and voice. It's something we really get to experience firsthand through the program. It’s exciting to see how different individuals bring their own unique style to their portfolios!
References
Harapnuik, D. (2024). It’s About Learning. Harapnuik.org. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7007
WeAreTeachers. (n.d.). 15 teaching portfolio examples, plus how to create your own. WeAreTeachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/teaching-portfolio-examples/