The feeling of starting an ePortfolio is daunting and cold, with a side of sheer panic. The uncertainty of how to start, where to look, how to research, and what to include in an ePortfolio is overwhelming. Once all those negative emotions are finally settled, going through each section piece by piece makes it easier to focus. Once focused on a particular area, your creativity and authentic learning really shine. The flexibility to make the ePortfolio your own brings out the best of you.
The issues I incurred were timing; balancing family, work, and classes has been a new experience. I purposefully stayed at my current grade level because I already have the resources, lesson plans, and a working knowledge of what I’m doing during the day. I initially pursued changing grade levels to switch things up at work but ultimately decided that keeping my day job the same would be the most straightforward course of action for less stress with the additional classes I would be taking. I was correct in doing so; I don’t have time in the evening to complete work-related activities because I’m busy with the courses for ePortfolio and Disruptive Innovation. Still, I struggle to spend the necessary time on the classes.
I constantly overthink everything. I’m the type of person who thinks of things from every aspect. Having this quality usually helps when presenting materials and ideas; for this situation, it has caused me a lot of discomfort and undo stress. After attending online classes, sending multiple emails, and having face-to-face conversations, my anxiety finally calmed to a working level. Having a peace of mind helps in these situations. Students can't work well until their emotional needs are met, this is the same for adults. I can't start working until I'm in the right frame of mind. If I do, the lack of quality of work shows through with errors and lack of Voice.
The overall feeling of completing an ePortfolio is euphoric. Finishing personal work is self-rewarding, but having the motivation to finish can be hard. Having deadlines and working towards an end goal is great for getting through the process. It personally helped me succeed in the classroom.
Now that I have an ePortfolio, I'm excited to share it with friends, family, coworkers, and potential employers. It's a great way to show my thinking process with authentic work, share my ideas, and collaborate with others who share the same point of view or debate with those whose views differ from mine. I will maintain my portfolio with updates and keep my audience engaged with compelling material.
