Eportfolios: Let's Talk Pros and Cons
Should you use an ePortfolio? Let’s talk pros and cons. According to Barnstable (2010), the various benefits of building and using an ePortfolio include benefits from both the process and the product for educators and students. Student benefits include taking control of their own learning, student-centered learning, self-esteem and self-confidence, individuality, personal learning record, and career potential. Essentially, ePortfolios help students learn as individuals. Students are able to take control of their own learning to show what is important to them while developing confidence in themselves as they learn and grow. For educators, the benefits are also numerous. Teachers are able to explore themselves and their passions, refresh and showcase their skills in all areas, identify strengths and weaknesses, and demonstrate their commitment to professional growth. Clearly, there are numerous pros in ePortfolio development, but what are the cons? From personal experience, a negative side of ePortfolios is the time it takes to continuously develop. Creating a quality product takes time, and many people in today’s world do not have time to give to things that are not a requirement on their daily schedule. So, let’s weigh the pros and cons – pros (infinite) versus cons (one). If the only reason for not developing an ePortfolio is time, that’s not a valid reason because the benefits far outweigh the cost.
The fact remains that ePortfolios are not just a showcase of learning, but a method of learning themselves. According to Harapnuik (n.d.), ePortfolios require the students to go and show and be active in deeper learning. Personally, reflection has always been the most challenging part of teaching for me, but the ePortfolio gives me an outlet, a voice, to reflect. My reflections are saved so that I can revisit them as necessary, but I can also share them with others so they can learn from my experiences. The ePortfolio is an accurate representation of myself as a teaching professional and the daily occurrences inside and outside of my classroom that helps me learn and grow as a teaching professional and person. If the question is “Why make an ePortfolio?” The answer is, “Why not?”
References
Barnstable, K. (2010, January 8). 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from
https://kbarnstable.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/41-benefits-of-an-eportfolio/
Harapnuik, D. (n.d.). Why Use an Eportfolio. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from
http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6063
