Student portfolio Web sites: valuable communication aids to future employers

Review of Business, Spring, 2008 by Patrick J. Lyons

At the College of Professional Studies, in one of her courses. Professor Carol Fletcher's (2006) students collect all of their multi-media assignments in an e-portfolio. At the end of the course, each student selects the best elements of the coursework collection and writes a reflection on the learning experiences. Professor Ellen Tufano includes samples of student work on her course portfolios. Her article (Tufano, 2007) discusses the student portfolio programs at five colleges, one of which is Dartmouth College. The Dartmouth Web site (2007) presents a helpful guide for any student who is starting a portfolio Web site. It contains four examples of how students articulated their best examples of competency areas for creativity, critical thinking, leadership and communication. Professor John DiMarco (2006) has recently published a book that discusses the process of creating a Web portfolio from initial concept through uploading to the Internet and promoting work.

At the College of Pharmacy, Professor Olga Hilas, Ph.D. is developing a prototype portfolio Web site for fifth and sixth year pharmacy students which would contain templates and recommendations for important professional documents. In addition to being an organized means of recording professional activities, this, portfolio enhances student experiences on professional rotations by providing faculty with information about individual student interests and prior experiences.

Prototype Portfolio Web site

The initial prototype Web site was developed by the author using Microsoft FrontPage. The homepage (see Exhibit 1) contains a brief introduction about the student and links to additional pages describing the student's:

1. Showcase--best of the best--a list of the best wordprocessed documents, workbooks, presentations and/or other digital works. Each one has a link to the work and a concise evocative description between 25 to 100 words.

2. Best wordprocessed documents a list of the best wordprocessed documents. Each one has a link to the document and a concise evocative description between 25 to 100 words, explaining how the document demonstrates the student's writing skills.

3. Best workbooks-a list of the best workbooks. Each one has a link to the workbook and a concise description, explaining how the workbook demonstrates the student's workbook development skills.

4. Best presentations-a list of the best presentations. Each one has a link to the presentation and a concise description, explaining how the presentation demonstrates the student's presentation development skills.

5. Most creative-a list of what the student considers as his/her most creative works. They may be duplicates of some of the above. Each one has a link to the work and a brief description of how it demonstrates the student's creativity.

6. Best courses-a list of what the student considers as the most important courses he or she has taken at St. John's. Each one may have links to the above works.

7. Other works-a list of other works, such as databases, computer programs, Web sites, graphics, or other digital works that the student has done. Each one has a link to the work and a concise description, explaining how the work demonstrates the student's skills.