Hello everyone. Today we are going to talk about using an EPortfolio template, whether it is from an instructor or the template we downloaded for the MTEngage scholarship.
If your instructor has a template they want you to use, it should already be on your EPortfolio news feed.
Templates are helpful because they already have the structure and content the instructor wants built in, you just have to fill in the information.
If you do not see a template for your class when you log into your EPortfolio news feed, try refreshing the page.
If this doesn’t work, contact your instructor to see if they can send you the template again.
There are a few different ways you can use the template based on your preferences.
The ways are:
one, to make a copy of the template which you will edit, leaving the original for storing the questions and requirements. This portion starts around 1 minute and 30 seconds in.
two, to use the original template and make copies of each content area on each page. This portion starts around 3 minutes in.
or three, to do your work in the original template under the instructors directions, and delete the directions when you are done. This portion starts around 6 minutes in.
Feel free to jump to the option which sounds best for you.
I am going to show you all three ways in this video, and then we will dive deeper into how to edit your portfolio in future videos.
Now, why would you need a copy of the template?
Well, this is a safeguard against losing your information.
Just like a sent e-mail, once you make changes to an EPortfolio template, those changes become permanent.
If you delete directions, having a copy will be a chance to get that information back.
Otherwise, those prompts may be lost for good.
So the first thing we are going to do is look for a little downward arrowhead next to the title of the templet.
I often call this a carrot when I am teaching trainings.
The carrot will open up a dropdown menu with a list of actions you can perform.
Things like View, Edit, Copy, Share, and Export are all available to you.
We are going to copy the file.
When you click on copy, it will bring up a dialogue box, asking you to name the file.
Your instructor might have a title they want you to use, but otherwise you can name this file anything that makes sense to you, as you and your instructor are the only two people who will see it.
I am going to name my file MT Engage eP Template Spring 2018 Copy, pretty simple.
Then click the ok button. You should now see the copy at the top of your news feed.
If you decided to copy the template, you can click on the carrot next to the copied template and click on edit in the dropdown menu.
If you didn’t make a copy, you will still do the same thing: on the instructors template you will click on the carrot next to the name and select edit from the dropdown menu.
The edit feature should open a new window.
You will see the name of the presentation at the top of the page under the True Blue learning banner, and then another row of tabs underneath with Properties, Content/layout, Banner, and Theme.
Under the properties tab is a space to change the name of the file, add a description, or tags to the presentation.
All of these edits will be seen only by you, so you do not have to add anything to this tab if you don’t want to.
The Content/layout tab is the most important tab in this lineup. Let’s click on it now.
If you are using an instructor’s template, you will see a new screen appear with a column or row for pages and another for content areas.
The portfolio I am using is for the MTEngage scholarship, which has four pages: About Me, Career and Education, Campus and Community, and Work/Academic Showcase.
Each page will have different content areas based on the assignment and what the instructor wants you to talk about on each page.
We are going to focus on the content areas right now.
Here is the second option we have: On my first page, About Me, in the bottom right hand corner of the content area, there should be a button which says add component.
By selecting add component, you can decide what kind of content you want to create.
I am going to select a text box.
This text box will function just like a word processor would, with fonts, styles, sizes and the like which you can edit.
You also have a box which you can change the title of the content area with.
I’m going to name my new component Who am I answer.
Before saving, you also have to add some sort of content to the main area.
Once you have made your new component, you can go back and forth between the directions, which are back in the first component box, and this new component box where you will type your answers.
Once you have finished answering all aspects of the question, you can then save and return to the About me content area, click on the x next to the directions component, and select yes you would like to delete the content area.
This will remove the directions from your EPortfolio, which some instructors require.
If you feel uncomfortable with all this, then there is a third way.
This also involves clicking on the carrot next to the template, and selecting edit.
Once in the editing section, click on the Content/Layout tab.
This time we are going to edit the Who am I content area. I’ll again select the carrot next to the name of the area, and select edit.
Once inside the text box, you can edit the document the same as you would in a word processor.
My suggestion is to either type above or below the questions, but be sure you don’t delete the questions until you are completely done with editing the content area.
Then you can highlight or select the directions, and delete them, before saving and closing out of the box.
Again, no matter which way you choose to approach this, be sure to keep the directions in a safe place until you are ready to turn in the assignment.
Once you save an edit in a template there is no undo button, so you’ll want to be careful about what you do.
Hopefully you have seen a way to go about your work with your EPortfolio which is helpful to you.
