This week we experimented with ePortfolios, the emerging technology that enables a student to share their learning experiences with others. Working much like a physical portfolio, an ePortfolio, or eFolio, showcases assignments, final projects, and whatever else students would like to share with the world. Though originally conceived for educational showcases, eFolios are being adapted for use beyond a person's educational career. This week was the first time I have heard of the name eFolio but I am very familiar with the idea as I have seen websites, eResumes and their like for a number of years. Having already used wikis and websites to show my work, I decided I would use an already made system for my Tech Play this week.
Because I use my phone for just about everything, I started to look in the iOS app store for eFoilo type apps that would be mobile friend. My main requirement was that I could build and edit, even if limited, using the mobile app itself. Another requirement was that the app or service didn't have a cost. I found the Epsilen app and installed it only to have to sign up on their website first before I was able to use the app. This was frustrating as I wanted something that would be mostly mobile in nature. I did later sign up on my computer and found out that the website is formidable. It is an entire social network unto itself, allowing you to connect with people just in a small network of your choosing, people who attend your school, or the world. The site also provides a plethora of options to show a variety of work. Resumes, videos, certifications, and ecetra can be share with this service. Another plus is a person does not have to know any web languages to create and share their eFolio with the world.
What I didn't like about the site was how it's clumsy layout of your information. It is no intuitive nor does it work the same way any other social media site does. To me Linkedin provides a better way to share and show your growth as student or professional. I would not recommend this website for my students and would instead invest the time and effort in teaching them how to create a website or a wiki as learning those tools and skills will be valuable over the course of their education and professional careers.
Though I didn't put much on it, here is my Epsilen page.
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