Your
Portfolio
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1
What is a portfolio?
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Scrapbook
View book
Log book
Professional diary
Pitch book
Showcase opportunity
Training/professional development tool
Organizational tool
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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What is a portfolio?
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Professional communication includes written, oral,
visual, and electronic communication in a workplace
context.
In the communications field, a portfolio is a very
valuable tool to help you:
1. advance in your education and
training
2. get an internship placement
3. find employment as a full-time
or part-time employee or as a
freelance professional
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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What is a portfolio?
A collection
of your very
best work!
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Why portfolios?
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Many employers ask for a portfolio of your work along with
your application
The portfolio is a great way to keep a
record of your work
You can use the
portfolio as a resource
for future works
Creating and
maintaining your
portfolio helps you
build organizational
skills
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What employers want
These websites are examples
of those used in the industry
for job searches
• web.olivetcollege.edu/careerdev/
communication.htm
• oedb.org/careers/communicatio
ns/
• www.prsa.org/jobcenter/career_r
esources/resource.../communic
ations/
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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What schools want
These websites are examples of university
programs that offer communications as a
major:
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http://www.baylor.edu/
http://www.smu.edu/
http://www.tamu.edu/
http://www.ttu.edu/
http://www.utexas.edu/
http://www.unt.edu/
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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What clients want
These websites are examples
of organizations that support
communications
professionals:
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http://www.americancomm.org//
http://www.spj.org/index.asp
http://www.womcom.org/
http://www.natcom.org/
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Benefits of portfolios
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Structure and organization for filing
projects and supporting documents
Track work
Track skill/knowledge development
Identify areas that need attention to
improve chances of achieving
desired outcomes (job, acceptance
into school, etc.)
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What other
ways can you
benefit from
creating a
portfolio?
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What do you want your
portfolio to do for you?
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Method for documenting your work
Resources for future work
Tools for assisting others
Examples to use when creating new
works
History of skill/knowledge progression
Acceptance into post-secondary
program
• JOB!
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Content elements
to consider…
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Type of work to be
documented
Support document types
File types
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Media required for storage
Media required for viewing
Source vs. display files
Filing structure for portfolio
content
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Technology resources
to consider…
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Computer
Graphics software
High-quality printer
Digital camera
Storage media
Existing format for examples of
your previous work
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Let’s get started
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How would you sort or identify your work?
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Things to consider
How do you want to organize your portfolio?
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Date
Type of work
Customer/course
Materials used
Size
Multiple criteria
(cross-referenced list)
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Organizing your portfolio
My Portfolio
Tracking document
Writing
Visual
Accomplishments
Speeches
Brochures
Awards
Blogs
Posters
Certifications
Presentations
Skills
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Organizing your portfolio
Written Work
Presentations
All About Me (specific project)
Presentation slides
Video of presentation
Presentation rubric
Peer feedback
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How will you organize/name it?
Which is most relevant to your work?
Organized by:
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Type (writing, technology, artwork)
Date (month, year)
Subject matter (school, student organization, work)
Primary purpose (service, education, training)
Media (presentation, writing samples, speeches, blogs, graphic
design, video)
Develop a system that is meaningful to you!
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Worksheet Activity
1.Complete the digital
portfolio worksheet for
the three items you will
use to create your
digital portfolio.
2. List the steps you will
need to take to create
digital images that
document your work.
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Supporting documents
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Assignments, projects, papers, syllabus,
awards, evaluation rubrics, test scores, etc.
Appropriate file format
Converting documents to digital format
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Things to consider
What will you need to create the
digital documentation?
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Original project/assignment
Graphics software
Digital camera
Storage media
High-quality prints
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Creating digital images
Things to consider before you take pictures
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Type of work (poster, presentation, etc.)
Lighting
Size/shape of work
Color
Materials
Resolution/quality of digital image
Background
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Creating digital images
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What do you think is better for
photographing your work, natural
or artificial light?
What background works best?
What resolution should your
images be?
How many different angles should
you capture?
How do you communicate size in
the image?
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Creating digital images
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Take practice shots
How many do you need to adequately document your work?
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Upload them to PC to review
Select the best shots and copy
them into your work folder
Rename them based upon
identification scheme you
want to use, such as:
Poster_recycling_Aug_13_2010.jpg
Flyer_communication_Mar_15_2012.pdf
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Other documents to
include…
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Certificates/Awards
Certification documentation
Standardized test results
Industry-specific
competency test results
Transcript
Copy of diploma
Résumé
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Portfolio assembly
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Create a binder with printouts of documents
including worksheet, assignment sheet, and
photos of your work
Assemble binder in same manner as your
digital portfolio with divider tabs
Use sheet protectors if you plan to use your
binder to share your
work with clients,
students, or peers
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Create your digital
portfolio
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Using the works you have chosen,
create your digital portfolio
Print a screen shot of the
folder and contents for
each item
Include the photos you
use to document your work
and submit with the
worksheet and folder screen shots
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Portfolio maintenance
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Once you’ve created a portfolio, what then?
Benefits of regular maintenance…
Consequences of irregular maintenance…
Timeline considerations…
Recommendations for maintenance
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Summary
Digital portfolios have many uses
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College program applications
Job applications
Participation in
competitions/workshops
Marketing your work
Attracting new clients
Personal growth/development
Training/helping peers
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