Setting up your ZEN Portfolio Estimated time: 5-20 minutes Sample e-portfolio: zenportfolios.ca/cyri-joneszenportfolios.ca/cyri-jones

Go to zenportfolios.ca and click on the “Sign Up Now!” linkzenportfolios.ca

Have two pictures ready A picture you can use for your e-portfolio home page – Horizontally oriented pictures work best – It’s good if the picture is either of yourself or is something meaningful to you (e.g. related to a personal interest or career area) Another picture of yourself or another image you can use for your avatar. – ZEN Portfolios will convert this to a thumbnail size, square-sized picture that you will see when you log in or if you later join a group or write a comment. Horizontal photo best Before you get started to create your e-portfolio, there are two pictures you should get in advance. Sample avatar You can later modify these images so don’t spend too long looking for the perfect images!

Enter your Username, Address and Password, read the Terms of Service and click on “I agree to the Terms of Service”. ZEN Portfolios sends you a confirmation with that information but sometimes these s get blocked in spam filters so it’s a good idea to write down your username and password. Step 1 Can be anything but good to use your first name last name (e.g. johnsmith) You can use your school or an external address. Username & Password

Click on “Enter Signup code (sponsored account), enter the Sign Up Code below to get a free account then click the Next button. Step 2 The sign up code for Capilano University is: capu2012 Enter Sign Up Code for free account

Click on “Enter Signup code (sponsored account), enter the Sign Up Code below to get a free account then click the Next button. Step 3 Site URL, Name, Image & Privacy Usually first name last name works best for Site Name, e.g. This will display on your e-portfolio homepage, e.g. John Smith You can change this later. Browse to an image that you want to use for your e-portfolio home page. You can always change it later. This is the best privacy setting to get started. This will enable you to invite your instructor to view your e- portfolio. Once you have more content on your e-portfolio to showcase, you will probably want to open up your privacy settings more so more prospective employers can see your work.

Enter your current and future desired employment sector information, your country and region then click the Next button. Note: You can always edit these settings later. Step 4 Current & Future Employment

Enter your first and last names, your birth month and year and then upload your avatar (i.e. image of yourself or other picture) Note: You are asked your birth month and year in order to ensure that we provide age-appropriate access to content, groups and services and to meet or exceed privacy regulations related to the collection of personal information. This information will never appear anywhere on your e-portfolio and will never be shared with any third parties except in very rate situations where required by a Canadian court order. Step 5a Name, Age Confirmation & Avatar

Select your role, school, program, enrollment status, and anticipated graduation date, then select the “Next” button. Step 5b Your role

You can optionally enter your social network information. Your e-portfolio home page will have links to any of the networks you enter. When done, click the “Next” button. By doing this step, your e-portfolio can become your anchor for your various social networks. Step 6 Social network info

List up to 10 skills, characteristics and hobbies and interests. Be sure to only add one item per line. This is an important step for helping to attract prospective employers so be sure to put some thought into it! You can always modify them late though. Step 7a Skills, characteristics & interests

Add your primary language, add any additional languages you speak, add the countries where you are both eligible and want to work, then click on the “Next” button. Step 7b Languages & work eligibility Cont…

An automated Welcome Post is created for your e-portfolio, based on the information you entered. It’s a good idea to modify it at least slightly so that your Welcome Post is unique. You also want to make sure it reads smoothly. You can always edit this later as well. Step 8 Welcome Post You can just ignore the [zpcontactlink] coding, this is just used by the system to link to your contact form.

The last step is a really quick one! You just need to click the “Register” button to complete your registration. Step 9 Register

You’re done! After clicking on the “Register” button, you will get this message informing you that you have successfully created your e-portfolio.

Confirmation Check your for a confirmation that will include a reminder of your username and password. If you don’t see this , check your spam folder, sometimes it ends up there. If you don’t get the confirmation , don’t worry, your site had been created and you can log in if you remember or wrote your username and password when you signed up.

Log in Login to zenportfolios.cazenportfolios.ca (or click on the link in your confirmation )

Click on “Your dashboard” You will see your avatar by the login area. Click on the “Your dashboard” link

Click on “Your dashboard” This is the admin dashboard where you will manage the more advanced features of your e-portfolio. ZEN Portfolios is based on WordPress so this dashboard is very similar. To view your e-portfolio and to access your “front-end” admin menu, click on the link with your e-portfolio name on the top left hand side.

View e-Portfolio You Congratulations! You now have your basic e-Portfolio set up!

If you have any questions or have any issues registering for ZEN Portfolios, you can contact: or call Cyri Jones at There are also help sessions in LB 302 Mondays from 4 to 5:20 p.m. More info about Capilano University’s e-Portfolio program is also available at: zenportfolios.ca/capu zenportfolios.ca/capu Support

This concludes registering for ZEN Portfolios and creating your basic e-Portfolio. The next tutorial will cover adding content to your e-portfolio. The end…