What is an e-Portfolio?

Today the term portfolio is being used to describe many things. This service promotes the development of e-Portfolios that are personalized, web-based collections that include:

• selected evidence from coursework,
• artifacts from extra-curricular activities, and
• reflective annotations and commentary related to these experiences.

Some programs of study at Penn State require that students publish on-line Program portfolios before graduating. Many faculty require students to publish course work on-line in Course portfolios. Students may choose to link to any or all of this evidence in a comprehensive Penn State e-Portfolio.

Why create e-Portfolios?

The e-Portfolio development process encourages all students to become more actively involved in planning, and more responsible for achieving, their own educational goals. Students also benefit by:

• sharing examples of their work with advisors, faculty, mentors or potential employers,
• mastering valuable information technology skills, and
• demonstrating knowledge, skills and attributes gained beyond the classroom.

As a result of engaging in the e-Portfolio development process, for example, "Looking Back, Looking Around, and Looking Ahead", students must reflect upon and articulate current accomplishments and goals for the future. This reflection also directs attention towards the collection of evidence that directly demonstrates what they know, what they can do and what they value.

Having this information in electronic format simply allows students to take advantage of networking possibilities that previously have not been as readily available. If someone were to compose an email recommending you for a lucrative opportunity, would they be able to add the line, "by the way...here is a link to their e-portfolio"? Now, every Penn State student can take advantage of this powerful opportunity!

Who can create an e-Portfolio?

Penn State University's Information Technology Services provides every Penn State student, regardless of program or campus location, with the resources necessary to create an e-Portfolio. Every student is allocated up to 1 GB of online storage space (PASS). Students can apply for a web folder within this storage space. This is offered at no charge by ITS. Digital files copied into this web folder are accessible by any internet web browser.

About portfolio.psu.edu

This portfolio.psu.edu is a centrally maintained web service for all e-Portfolio developers at Penn State. In this web site you will find:

• information and advice regarding the collection, selection and reflection upon your evidence,
• the basic skills necessary to design and create web pages, and
• Penn State resources to help you with all aspects of developing your e-portfolio.

This service is a collaborative effort of Penn State's Information Technology Services, the Division of Student Affairs, and the EMS e-Education Institute.

For more information about what you can do with e-Portfolios at Penn State, contact Project Manager, Glenn Johnson at portfolio@psu.edu.

Find out more

Rationale for using e-Portfolios (82 K) David DiBiase, Director e-Education Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences