Your Portfolio 1 Part of the Interviewing process.

What is a portfolio? Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 2 Scrapbook View book Log book Professional diary Pitch book Showcase opportunity Training/professional development tool Organizational tool

What is a portfolio? Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 3 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

What is a portfolio? A collection of your very best work! Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 4

Why portfolios? Many employers ask for a portfolio of your work along with your application. The portfolio is agreat 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. 5Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

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/communicat- ions/ esources/resource.../communi- cations/‎ 6Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

What schools want These websites are examples of university programs that offer communications as a major: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

What clients want These websites are examples of organizations that support communications professionals: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Benefits of portfolios 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.) Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 9

10 What other ways can you benefit from creating a portfolio?

What do you want your portfolio to do for you? 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 11Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. JOB!

Content elements to consider… 12Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Type of work to be documented Support document types File types Media required for storage Media required for viewing Source vs. display files Filing structure for portfolio content

Technology resources to consider… Computer Graphics software High-quality printer Digital camera Storage media Existing format for examples of your previous work 13Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Let’s get started How would you sort or identify your work? 14Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Things to consider How do you want to organize your portfolio? Date Type of work Customer/course Materials used Size Multiple criteria (cross-referenced list) 15Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Organizing your portfolio 16Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. My Portfolio Writing Speeches Blogs Presentations Visual BrochuresPosters Accomplishments Awards Certifications Skills Tracking document

Organizing your portfolio 17Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Written Work Presentations All About Me (specific project) Presentation slides Video of presentation Presentation rubric Peer feedback

How will you organize/name it? Which is most relevant to your work? Organized by: 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! 18Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

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. 19Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Supporting documents Assignments, projects, papers, syllabus, awards, evaluation rubrics, test scores, etc. Appropriate file format Converting documents to digital format Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 20

Things to consider What will you need to create the digital documentation? Original project/assignment Graphics software Digital camera Storage media High-quality prints 21Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Creating digital images Things to consider before you take pictures Type of work (poster, presentation, etc.) Lighting Size/shape of work Color Materials Resolution/quality of digital image Background 22Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Creating digital images 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? 23Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Creating digital images Take practice shots How many do you need to adequately document your work? 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 24Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Other documents to include… Certificates/Awards Certification documentation Standardized test results Industry-specific competency test results Transcript Copy of diploma Résumé Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 25

Portfolio assembly 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 26Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Create your digital portfolio 27Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 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

Portfolio maintenance Once you’ve created a portfolio, what then? Benefits of regular maintenance… Consequences of irregular maintenance… Timeline considerations… Recommendations for maintenance Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 28

Summary 29Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Digital portfolios have many uses College program applications Job applications Participation in competitions/workshops Marketing your work Attracting new clients Personal growth/development Training/helping peers