Why ePortfolios?
An ePortfolio is a personal website that can serve many functions.
An ePortfolio can be:
- An expression of your unique educational career
- A reflection on your goals and achievements
- A demonstration of your visual and digital literacy skills
- A tool for career management
- A place to connect academic and extracurricular learning
ePortfolios can be educational tools for learning, or they can be professional tools for career advancement. The best ePortfolios are both!
A note on digital literacy: In every field, you will be expected to engage with digital tools and create digital media in some capacity - why wait until then to start learning these skills?
What is Adobe Express?
You have access to the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, a powerful collection of digital tools and software that can elevate your creative projects. This includes premium access to Adobe Express, an online platform for content creation.
Tool highlights:
- It's free: Adobe Express has a free version, which means you'll be able to retain access to the content you create after you graduate.
- It's fast: Express can be accessed through any web browser, which means you don't need to download anything. It is also packed with quick actions to get you started.
- It's fun: from thousands of templates to integrated generative AI capabilities, there isn't much you can't do in Express.
Note: You can use whatever platform you would like/works best for you. However, this workshop will focus on Express features, and the team can only support Adobe tools.
Tech Tips
Level up your website
Pick a Theme: Express has built-in themes that help you change the look and feel of your ePortfolio. Toggle between a few until you land on one that speaks to you - or...
Create a Theme: Not sure you see yourself in any of Express's pre-set themes? Create your own! Use fonts and colors from a personal brand or start from scratch in the theme editor. Either way, make sure that you feel good about the way that your ePortfolio looks, because it could be representing you to potential employers.
Target your Audience: Consider who your audience might be for your ePortfolio and tailor it to that audience's interests and needs. Pick and choose your content to include for different audiences; by duplicating your ePortfolio you can change up what you highlight without losing content from your original webpage.
Contact Button: Create a button that allows people to contact you once they have encountered your ePortfolio! Quickly and easily connect with people by using the prefix "mailto:" before your email in the URL section of the button editor.
Anchor Headings: Express has limited navigation capabilities. To add a menu at the top of your webpage, consider creating text anchor links that allow users to jump to the section they want to see. Include "Back to Top" links or buttons to increase viewability and ease of access. Note: Links can only be connected to body text, not headers or quotes.
Demo: Anchors, Theme, & Contact Button
Let's first explore how to create text anchors for navigation in Express. Then, we'll check out Express's branding features to create our own personal themes. Finally, we'll create a "Contact Me" button so viewers of your ePortfolio can get in touch with you.
Content Bootcamp Review
Suggestions from the last workshop!
Upload a Headshot: Put your best foot forward with a professional headshot that lets viewers put a face to your name. Don't have a headshot? The Career Center offers free headshots - check their website for updated hours. In a pinch? Most newer smartphones have great cameras. Download the Lightroom mobile app to edit pictures on the fly!
Link your Info: Connect your professional assets like your resume and your LinkedIn profile. PDFs can be included in an ePortfolio by hosting them in Google Drive and then linking them to a button or text. Your LinkedIn profile could be just a button-click away! Make sure to put the link to your ePortfolio on your LinkedIn profile as well so that interested viewers can learn more about you.
Ditch Stock Photos: You may have included some stock images in your ePortfolio as you got started. Now is a great time to kick them out and replace them with photos you've taken yourself or photos other people have taken of you. Your ePortfolio is your personal website; use images to tell your story.
Check Your Text: Your words make all the difference in your ePortfolio. Make sure any text is clear, concise and error-free. Most of the time, you won't be in the room with people viewing your portfolio, so make sure you're telling exactly the story you'd like them to know. Be sure to include text hierarchy with headers, sub-headers and quote text to break up sections and draw viewers to your words how you want them to be read.
Prioritize: Express is a linear platform; some people can find the narrative structure of the webpage feature annoying or limiting. Instead, use this to your advantage by making sure to prioritize your content exactly how you would like your viewer to encounter it. The most important information that you want to highlight first should come at the top, and less immediate information can follow.
Resources
Sample ePortfolios
These are two examples of a completed ePortfolio. Let's compare the two and explore how the content decisions affect the end result.
MSU ePortfolio Website
You can find more resources on the MSU ePortfolio website including other student examples of work, presentation slides for workshops, and eTutorials on using Adobe Express.
Adobe EdEx
Adobe's Education Exchange is an awesome resource for exploring what other educators are doing with Adobe tools in the classroom. There are also in-depth tutorials for different Adobe tools; as a student with access to the Adobe Creative Suite, this resource is free to use.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is another great way to learn how to use digital tools. There are tons of courses and tutorials on all kinds of different platforms and skills; faculty, staff and students have free access to this resource.