Once we have our artifacts uploaded to our EPortfolio newsfeed, we can then add them to our work.
If you haven’t added content to your EPortfolio newsfeed yet, please check out the “adding Content” video first, as you will not be able to add content to the portfolio unless this is done.
I’m going to edit a template for the MTEngage EPortfolio Scholarship, however, you can use any template you like.
If you have a template for you class that the instructor requires, then it should already be on your newsfeed.
If you don’t have a template, you can learn how to make your own by checking out the “Creating a New Portfolio” video, or you could download the same template that I am using by watching the “Uploading and Using the MTEngage Template” video.
Once you have your portfolio, you will select the little arrow, or carrot, next to the title of the project, and select edit from the dropdown menu.
This will bring you to a new screen with a row of tabs at the top labeled Properties, Content/Layout, Banner, and Theme.
Everything in the properties tab will be seen only by you, so there is no need to modify this content if you don’t want to.
First, you will want to select the content/layout tab.
From here your screen will change and you will see multiple options for how to design your EPortfolio.
If you watched the “Using a Template from an Instructor” video, you will recognize that there are multiple ways to use a template, from copying the entire template to editing inside of the pre-made template boxes.
The same can be said for adding content to your EPortfolio: there are multiple types of content you can add, and multiple ways you can add this material to your portfolio.
I am going to break these methods up into sections.
In section 1 I will discuss how to add artifacts directly to the content area of your page, including text boxes for writing reflections. This will begin at around 3:00.
In section 2 I will discuss adding artifacts inside a text box. This will begin at around 6:30.
In both sections I will be adding typed text, a word document, and an image file.
D2L accepts doc, docx, PDF, and jpeg files. It does not always accept googledocs, notes, or png files.
If you are having trouble adding an artifact to your EPortfolio, try switching your format.
Otherwise you can look at the resources page for more information on how to submit artifacts.
For this section, I’m going to add three things: a text area, a document artifact, and an image artifact.
The text area will be first, starting around the 3:20, with the document starting around the 5:00, and the image starting around 5:40.
As you look at your page, you should notice a button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen which says add component.
This button will generate a pop-up menu with options for what you can add to your EPortfolio.
I am going to add three things: a text area, a document artifact, and an image artifact.
First, I am going to scroll down until I see the text area button.
Once I click on it, a new dialogue box will appear.
I must name the text area, so I will name it “Hello.”
This box functions just like a word processor, with the ability to type information, change font sizes, and even create a divider.
I am going to type in “Hello World” and then select the fourth button from the right, a little carrot button which creates a dropdown menu.
The options available are insert line and insert Emoticon.
I am going to insert a line.
Once this is complete, I will save and close.
If you didn’t name your text area, the system will not allow you to close out until you do.
Try to make the name something which clearly describes what you are writing about.
If you would like to see what your new text area looks like, you can select the view presentation button just under the title of the EPortfolio.
Next I am going to add a word document, using the add component button.
I will select the add component button, select artifact, and find the document I want to use in my EPortfolio.
Notice that when you add an artifact this way, the system will display the title of the artifact, as well as a link to the file.
Finally, I will add an image file. Again, I will select the add component button, select artifact, and find my image in my EPortfolio.
The system automatically scales the image to fit on the template for you.
The image will have a title, so if you want it to look different, you will have to select the carrot next to the name, select edit, and change the title of the image.
As a major part of the EPortfolio is reflection, if you add documents or images to your EPortfolio, I would suggest adding a text area below and providing some context or reflection on the artifact.
There is another way to add artifacts to your EPortfolio; by adding it to a text area.
I’m going to edit an existing text area around the 6:40.
I will add a text file around the 8:00, and I will add an image file around the 9:40.
First, you will either select an already created text area, if you are using a template, or create a new text area.
You can create a new text area by selecting the add component button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, then select text area.
The text area functions like a normal word processor, with the ability to type, change fonts, and even copy or paste information inside.
If you are writing a reflective piece, or something short—say 200-500 words—you can simply type in the box and save it.
For longer documents, I suggest you add them as links to your work.
Once inside the text area, decide where you want your content to be by placing the cursor in that specific area.
Where your cursor is determines where your content will be added.
You will notice there are three buttons in the upper left-hand corner of the dialogue box: a black box with a white right-facing triangle, a chain of three links, and a circular symbol.
The black box with the white arrow is the insert stuff button.
I associate it with the YouTube Play button icon, since it allows me to add content to my EPortfolio.
Click on the button, and a new screen will pop up with options to add objects from different sources.
You can add from your EPortfolio, add a link, or even an embed code.
I’m going to add an Artifact from my EPortfolio, so I’m going to select Eportfolio.
This will bring up a list of all the artifacts you have saved to your EPortfolio news feed.
If you need help finding an Artifact, you can type in information in the search box at the top of the screen.
Otherwise, when you find your artifact you can select the circular checkbox to the left of the title, and click next.
I am going to add a text document first.
The default method a text document adds in is a link, and the title being generated as a collection of numbers and letters.
This is not helpful to your reader, as they have no idea what that combination means.
There should be a new screen showing this combination, along with a box, called link text, to change the title of the document.
Make the title something which accurately describes the document for your reader.
Then click the blue insert button at the bottom of the dialogue box.
Now I am going to insert an image. The beginning of this process will look the same as adding a text document.
Click on the insert stuff button, and a new screen will pop up with options to add objects from different sources.
You can add from your EPortfolio, add a link, or even an embed code.
I’m going to add an Artifact from my EPortfolio, so I’m going to select Eportfolio.
This will bring up a list of all the artifacts you have saved to your EPortfolio news feed.
If you need help finding an Artifact, you can type in information in the search box at the top of the screen.
Otherwise, when you find your artifact you can select the circular checkbox to the left of the title, and click next.
I have selected an image file this time.
When the next screen appears, the dialogue box will look a little different.
Here the system will ask you to make a choice: you can either add a title and create alternative text for the image, or you can select the “this is decorative” button underneath the alternative text box.
What is alternative text?
Alternative text is a way of helping make your presentation more accessible.
It briefly describes the image in a hidden way, specifically made for text to talk readers.
If the image is important to your overall argument or represents data from a project, I would consider creating alternative text for your images to make your EPortfolio as accessible as possible.
If the image is not as important, or is just there to make the EPortfolio look better, you can select the “this is decorative” button and you will not need to create a title or alternative text.
In this dialogue box, you can also adjust the size of the image.
Underneath the lock aspect ratio button, are two boxes for width and height.
If the aspect ratio button is selected, you only need to fill in one of the boxes, if not then you will have to fill in both.
Once you have typed in a size, you can hit the refresh preview button to see the image at its new size.
I suggest leaving the aspect ratio locked and making either the width or height of the image 500, as that seems a reasonable sized picture to me.
You cannot change the orientation in the system, so if the image is on its side, you may think about changing the size or editing the image in an image editing software before reuploading it.
Once you are happy with the image, you can select the blue insert button.
Now that you know the many ways you can add content to your EPortfolio, you can begin constructing it in the way which best represents you.
