Student portfolio Web sites: valuable communication aids to future employers

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

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Conclusions

This paper has presented an approach to develop a student portfolio Web site by modifying a prototype Web site using only Microsoft Word and the Internet Explorer. The first conclusion is that, because the students found it straightforward and relatively easy to develop their Web sites, the approach should be continued.

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The second conclusion is that, because there was a substantial improvement in quality of the navigation pages after the reflection with the Writing Center tutor, the review by the Writing Center should be continued.

Student motivation to keep a lifelong portfolio Web site increases as the value of the portfolio to the student increases. One way to increase this value is to make it easier for potential employers to find the student portfolio Web site. In a recent paper, DiMarco (2007) found that only nine of the 294 colleges and universities in New York State had active retrievable student portfolio Web sites. The third conclusion is that colleges and universities should design their Web sites so that, for students who wish to have their portfolios showcased, there is a straightforward path for employers to find them.

The fourth conclusion is that all faculty should encourage students to include their course projects on the students' portfolio Web sites. When a project will last a lifetime (on the student Web site) and not pass into oblivion, the student will be more motivated to do superior work.

References

(1.) Barrett, H.C. 2007. White Paper: "Researching Electronic Portfolios and Learner Engagement," http://www.electronicportfolios.org/reflect/whitepaper. pdf.

(2.) Dartmouth College Portfolio Web site. 2007. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/portfolio

(3.) DiMarco, J. 2006. Web Portfolio Design and Applications. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing. Inc., ISBN: 1-59140-854-7.

(4.) DiMarco, J. 2007. "A Statewide Analysis of Student Web Portfolios in New York Colleges and Universities," International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, Apr-Jun. Vol. 3, Iss. 2; p 15 (eight pages).

(5.) Fletcher, C. 2006. "e-Portfolios: an Overview of Applications in a Sport Management Course," St. John's University Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter, Vol. 11, Iss. 8, p 5.

(6.) Gibbons, B. 2007. "Bernadette's Basic ePortfolio" http://www.eportfolio.lagcc.cuny.edu/ePortfolio/Basic/bernadette.gibbons

(7.) Greenberg, G. 2004. "The Digital Convergence: Extending the Portfolio Model" EDUCAUSE Review, Vol. 39, no. 4 (July/August), pp. 28-36, http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/ pdf/erm0441.pdf

(8.) Heaney-Hunter, Jr. (ed). 2007. Core Curriculum and Discover New York Newsletter, Fall. Vol. 2, Iss. 2.

(9.) Johns Hopkins Digital Portfolio Web site. 2007. http://cte.jhu.edu/epweb

(10.) LaGuardia Community College/CUNY ePortfolio Web site. 2007. http://www.eportfolio.lagcc.cuny.edu.

(11.) Lorenzo, G. and J. Ittelson. 2005. "An Overview of E-Portfolios" http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3001.pdf