Salt Lake Community College believes the ePortfolio helps students achieve success.
An ePortfolio consists of a website in which students archive selected assignments, reflect on their education, and list their educational and personal goals. All students taking general education courses are required to build an ePortfolio.
“[It] pretty much helps students engage in technology learning, and can also be used as a resume for potential employers,” says Joel Kongolo, an ePortfolio lab specialist. “SLCC requires it for general education, but you can do it for the required classes [of your specific major]. The classes can [then] be used as a resume.”
In previous semesters, the ePortfolio lab used different websites, including Weebly, to create the portfolio. However, a new platform, Digication, was introduced during the fall 2016 semester.
Compared to previous sites, Digication has several sample layouts available. Students simply delete the default content and insert their own information.
To facilitate the ePortfolio process, SLCC has resource labs where students can receive help.
ePortfolio labs are located at Taylorsville Redwood, Jordan and South City campuses. Each location offers services to develop ideas and assist with the portfolios and reflections.
At the lab, students can create their site, upload assignments, customize the layout and links, and, most importantly, understand the purpose of the ePortfolio. Kongolo says the labs are open to every student, and students can reserve appointments with a lab specialist. Students and faculty can also request workshops.
Many students readily admit to not knowing exactly how an ePortfolio bolsters their educational careers.
“I don’t know why we have it,” says Jackie Herrera, a sophomore attending for general education. “[I think] it’s worthless. Why do we have to do those things when we can submit them online?”
Although some students may not be fully behind it, the idea is straightforward.
ePortfolios help students create a place to document and reflect on their work. Besides being a space to archive the student’s best work, it can also be used as a reference to demonstrate such work. The purpose of the ePortfolio is to highlight what the student can accomplish by connecting their past achievements with their current self.
SLCC provides ePortfolio resouces which contain online tutorials for students that can’t visit the lab or who are more comfortable building the site by themselves.
For more information, contact ePortfolio coordinator Emily Dibble at 801-957-3706 or emily.dibble@slcc.edu.
