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ePortfolios

Collect, reflect on and share your learnings from courses, volunteer or work experiences

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The basics
Types
Resources
Contact

What is an ePortfolio?

An ePortfolio is an online tool that students can use to compile examples of their learning and experiences, reflect on these to deeper understand them, find connections between them and also present them to others. Examples of work, often called artifacts, are stored electronically in a variety of forms, such as videos, downloadable documents, pictures of experiences or work. Like many technological tools, the concept of ePortfolios is consistently evolving and many different terms are used interchangeably with the term ePortfolio, such as digital or electronic portfolio, online dossier, or even simply a personal or professional website.

ePortfolios are very versatile and are used widely for a variety of purposes including:

  • to review and reflect on one’s work or learning for academic, personal or professional development
  • as a storage place, somewhat like a digital filing cabinet
  • to explore one’s personal or professional identity that aids in the development of goals and ambitions
  • to showcase one’s knowledge, skills, and/or examples of work or learning in order to share with others (such as instructors, peers, family, friends, and potential employers). 

    An ePortfolio may contain all or some of the following:

    • Connections between experiences over a learning journey
    • Files in a variety of formats (text documents, pictures, videos, downloadable PDFs, etc.)
    • Writing or projects related to courses, programs of study, etc.
    • Evidence of skills or knowledge gained from outside of formal educational courses/programs
    • Evidence of extracurricular or co-curricular activities, including examples of leadership
    • Evaluations, analysis, and recommendations (such as quotes from instructors or work supervisors)
    • Values statement that creates a theme that connects different learnings/skills/hobbies/passions/experiences
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    Different Types of ePortfolios

    There are a variety of types of ePortfolios, all with their own purpose. It is important to note that while an ePortfolio may be developed in one type or format, many times students can find that they can do a variety of small changes in order to transform it for use in another way. Most commonly students often develop a learning ePortfolio for an educational course or program, then later adapt it for use as a showcase portfolio when they are transitioning to career searching.

    Showcase ePortfolios

    • Designed primarily to demonstrate the highlights of a student’s academic or professional knowledge/skills or experiences

    Learning ePortfolios

    • Often developed to deepen one’s own learning, or as part of a course or program
    • Often shared with peers, instructors and/or supervisors to aid in learning
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    Assessment ePortfolios

    • Often used in clinical programs that allow students to compile and show evidence to demonstrate specific competencies
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    Learn more about the benefits of ePortfolios from students and faculty in their own words (An article from the Association of American Colleges and Universities).

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    Additional information

    These resources are being continually updated, check back frequently or contact the team to request for additional information.

    Sample ePortfolios

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    Workshops

    Student Resources

    Faculty Resources

    Contact us

    We are here to help you with any questions you have about ePortfolios. Please contact us if you have questions in the following areas:

    For ePortfolio learning and teaching support

    Rhianna Nagel

    Community-Engaged Learning Coordinator

    250-472-5667

    For technological support

    Using ePortfolios tool in Brightspace, how to build an ePortfolio using the Online Academic community:

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    We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the University of Victoria stands, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.