This presentation discusses the process for designing and developing a digital portfolio. It walks through organizing your content to creating a portfolio site using Weebly, Wix or LinkedIn. This was presented to the Department of Communication students at California University of Pennsylvania in March 2014.

1. Digital Portfolios
Your Digital Narrative

2. What is a Digital Portfolio?
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An electronic version of your work, accomplishments
and thoughts
Can be in the form of PowerPoints, PDF, Website,
or LinkedIn… each having its own advantages and
disadvantages

3. Ultimate Goal of a Digital Portfolio?

4. Ultimate Goal of a Digital Portfolio?
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Provide entry into the real world
Structure the educational experience
Demonstrate your knowledge and skills listed on
your resume

5. Why should you care?
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Internships
Job Interviews
Promotional tool

6. Drive Traffic to Your Portfolio
Business Card
Digital Portfolio
Email Signature

7. Where do I start?
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Collect your materials
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Back-up and save your work! TWICE!
Document the purpose of each piece, important concepts
and reflect on it (personal assessment)
Conceptualize your thoughts
Once you know the content/materials for your
website; then you can determine your direction
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This can also help identify gaps in your knowledge

8. Information Architecture
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The combination of:
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organization,
labeling, and
navigational schemes
Categorize your sections to best organize your
information and gives an overview of what you do

9. What do you mean by ‘digital narrative’?
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The portfolio should tell the story of YOU
Creating and maintaining a dynamic resume of your
experiences
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Life
Work
Study
What do I want to do? (Career Goal)

10. My Website
Current Portfolio
(Teaching)
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Home
About
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Bio
Vitae
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Old Portfolio
(Designer)
Teaching Portfolio
Speaking
Publications
Contact
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Home
About
Design
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Graphic
Web
Resume
Contact

11. Who am I?
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Professional Profile
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Graphic Designer
Web designer/developer
Social media fan
Instructor/educator
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Education
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Both of these areas are highlighted in my
about, teaching, & portfolio sections

12. Doug Strahler
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Academic/Teaching Experience
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Syracuse University
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Onondaga Community College
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Web design
Multimedia
Graphic Design
Web design
Graphic Design
Slippery Rock University
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Web design
Social Media
Issues in Communication Technology

13. Professional Experience
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Professional Experience
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Employer
Position/Title
Dates
Description of your responsibilities (be descriptive)
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Don’t: Designed brochures
Do: Organized content and created brochures to be utilized for
the promotion of Department of Communication using the
Adobe Creative Suite.
Don’t: Ran Facebook page
Do: Developed the content editorial calendar for and managed
the Facebook page for the Department of
Communication, where it saw a 50% increase in Likes and
Engagement over my first month.

14. Professional Experience
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Make sure to get approval from the client to post the
work to your portfolio website!
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Send internship coordinators or employers an email to get
permission and save the approval
If it is a hypothetical or class work, make sure to
emphasis that in your description

15. Portfolio Examples
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Each portfolio piece should have a 1-2 sentence
description about the piece. Answer the questions:
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What is the piece?
What did you create it for? (Class, Internship, Job)
What software did you use? (if applicable)
Add screenshots of work, but make sure you are
consistent across pages
Be descriptive – you have the space too

16. What do I put on my homepage?
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Consider it a buffet or preview to your site for you to
provide snippets or lead-ins to site sections
You a writer? Create a blog related to your field

17. Student Examples: Kelly Rhoades

18. Student Examples: Josh Smith

19. Student Examples: Allie McClernon

20. Student Examples: Nicole Yale

21. What else should you do?
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Begin to manage your digital identity
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Resume
YouTube
Blog
LinkedIn
Twitter
Be familiar with what is going on in your field!
Tailor your portfolio for the job you want

22. Where can I create my website?
Or use a website builder you are already familiar with – these are just suggestions!