Higher Education Online

The more technology develops, the more one can expect new and innovative features to come along and enhance every day life. Many tools and standard implements of life are now being electronically replaced. Electronic portfolios, or ePortfolios, are a new high tech method for planning the course of an education. It is important to not only have goals but to map them out and record one's progress along the way. This can provide motivation as well as grant the type of focus that keeps distractions from becoming a problem. An electronic portfolio is a perfect tool for career planning. It displays one's achievements, experiences and progress.

Often called a learning plan, ePortfolios are comprised of the learning goals one expects to accomplish in a certain time period. These electronic portfolios can be as diverse in detail as the student they belong to. While it may take some students only a month to achieve their goal, for others it may be one year. Those with longer or more extensive goals will find that they need to break their long term goal into several smaller ones. Doing this will not only keep the large goal from seeming insurmountable, it will actually allow one to keep a firm grasp of their progress as time goes on.

With each listed goal comes a listed action. The action describes what habits must be established or what duties must be performed in order to reach the goal. For instance, if one is seeking to gain a certain qualification in accounting, the action could be to locate a good online education program that will make this a reality. Too often, individuals have an idea of a goal but do not establish how they will realistically reach it. After establishing a goal, there must be action and follow through in order to keep one from ending right back in a place of frustration with their career plan.

The actions of an ePortfolio are coupled with resources. Resources are viable outlets of information or a means for ensuring the action takes place. If the action is to find an online school, a good resource may be the internet or even a career counselor who can provide specific information for accomplishing the task. Once the action is carried out in full, students can document the task as completed and move on to the next goal. This documentation is often referred to as evidence. Not only does it provide confirmation that the task was finished, this documentation can then be revisited at any time to help make any necessary adjustments on a long term goal. The ePortfolio can then be put on display at the student's discretion to show their goals, accomplishments and successes.

Higher Education Online |