shape your future with an e-portfolio - faculty...
TRANSCRIPT
access MAY-JUN 2012 19
What Is a Portfolio?
When you reach a point in your career where you are look-
ing for opportunities for advancement or new employment,
it is advantageous to showcase your strengths and accom-
plishments. Dental hygienists often have a wide variety of
achievements from all realms of professional development
and may provide an advantage over other candidates when
seeking career opportunities.
A professional portfolio demonstrates evidence of your
skills, achievements and professional experience.1 Portfolios
include a variety of information to summarize your contribu-
tions to dental hygiene practice, professional development
Examples of the categories for your portfolio can be found in
Figure 1. This list is not exhaustive, but is intended to stimu-
late your thoughts.
There are two methods for creating a professional port-
folio, traditional and electronic. The traditional version is a
paper copy, while the emerging format is an electronic, or
e-portfolio. Electronic portfolios can be either web-based or
computer-based. Web-based portfolios are created through
websites that provide the user with a web domain for an an-
nual fee. Computer-based portfolios are a lower-cost option,
as the only purchases required include computer software and
-
Why Choose an E-portfolio?
-
pants who created an electronic portfolio “reported a better
understanding of their skills and attributes and increased
-
ployers.”2 Individuals who compile a professional portfolio will
have the ability to quickly and accurately demonstrate lifelong
learning and continued professional competence.3 With com-
petition in the workforce, a professional portfolio provides a
visual representation that sets you apart from other candi-
dates by allowing you to express your individual strengths
the interview. Additionally, portfolios are used for develop-
mental purposes, such as promotion and advancement, in the 4 Mid- to late-career profession-
als can display their strong points by highlighting skills and
experience not evident on a resume.4
E-portfolios preserve documentation from natural disasters
and viruses if the documents are regularly backed up.3 Each
piece of information found in a portfolio is centrally located
on the computer. This allows easy retrieval of information and
the ability to update content regularly. E-portfolios are living
documents and should evolve throughout your professional
this reduces the need for a cumbersome paper copy in a bind-
that it returns safely back to you. Electronic versions also
eliminate unnecessary printing and use of paper.
Many current dental hygiene graduates develop electronic
portfolios during their educational experience. Mid- to late-
career professionals need to demonstrate adaptability to tech-
remain viable in the workforce.
How To Do It
The length of a portfolio depends on the amount of sup-
porting documentation provided. This will vary with your
tailored to your desired position. In order to accomplish this,
you will need a larger pool of documentation to choose from.
Having a wide variety of showcased skills will allow you to
easily compile a portfolio. Examples of practice contributions
may include, but are not limited to, methods of increasing
techniques, thank-you letters from patients, positive em-
ployer annual reviews, and lists of products or technologies
with which you have experience in clinical practice. Evidence
of professional development incorporates continuing educa-
tion opportunities, membership in professional associations as
-
of recommendation and references. Presentations and pub-
lications are an excellent way to showcase research, educa-
tional skills and community involvement. Limiting the portfolio
to the 10 best
items will
focus the
potential
employer on
key areas of
competency
and permit
him or her
to scan the
Shape Your Future with an E-PortfolioBy Kimberly M. Parsons, RDH, MEd, CDA and Emily R. Holt, RDH, MHA, CDA
Table of Contents
new products, etc.
Figure 1. Components of a professional portfolio
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Disc label
Disc case
Disc cover insert
Figure 2. Required materials
20 MAY-JUN 2012 access
contents of the portfolio in a short amount of time. This brief review
should engage and motivate the reviewer to explore your portfolio
of the examples included in the portfolio and how they demonstrate
your intellectual, professional and clinical growth.
Before you create your portfolio, all supporting paper documenta-
tion should be converted into an electronic format. For example, scan
electronic documents and presentations before converting them into
of how to perform any functions in a particular software program,
always use its help function.
This may be to position you for job advancement, a pay raise or a
verify who will be reviewing your portfolio. When applying for a clini-
cal dental hygiene position, this might include several team members,
and the employing dentist.
Now you are ready to plan your strategy for se-
lecting the items you will use in your portfolio, as the
same portfolio cannot be used in all situations. This
to match your assets to their needs. Select the 10
and individuality.
After choosing the appropriate samples of evi-
on your computer. You can label the folder according
it will be copied over to the rewritable disc that will
be distributed to the reviewer. This will become the
-
portfolio.
create a title slide. This will include your name, credentials, phone
number, email address and, optionally, a recent professional photo-
included in your portfolio will be listed in the table of contents in the
of headings and subheadings you may include.
Create a new slide in the presentation to showcase each heading
and subheading from your table of contents. A short description of
the subheading should be placed on the slide, accompanied by a vi-
the supporting documentation will appear. After creating all of your
Show, you will enable the viewer to automatically open and view the
found in the presentation. Choose a name for the show that indicates
to the viewer that this is the main format for viewing your portfolio.
The saved version of the show should not go into the subfolder you
documents to a rewritable disc. Create an additional folder on your
-
folder you previously created with supporting documentation. The
-
-
tioned to a rewritable disc.
You may wish to create a disc cover insert as well as a disc label
appear on the insert include directions on how to use the electronic
-
alism and leave a positive lasting impression.
effortless.
■
The word “portfolio” has different meanings in different
contexts. The collection of materials discussed in this article is
and experiences to potential employers.
Among the other meanings, in 2010, California passed
based examination for initial licensure, by which they would
portfolio of
completed clinical experiences and competency exams in seven
subject areas for submission to the dental board. The portfolio
examination is accepted only in California.
-
ists in any state; however, Minnesota does require licensees to
establish a professional portfolio to record, monitor, and retain
documentation of professional development activities.
With competition in the workforce, a professional
portfolio provides a visual representation that sets
you apart from other candidates by allowing you to
express your individual strengths and unique style. {
Figure 3. Screen capture of disc contents
access MAY-JUN 2012 21
References
1. Dennison RD. What goes into your professional portfolio & what you’ll get
out of it. Am Nurs Today 2007; 2(1): Available at www.americannursetoday.
2. Stevens H. The impact of e-portfolio development on the employability of
70-6.
Kimberly M. Parsons, RDH, MEd, CDA, is an
assistant professor of dental assisting and
dental hygiene at the University of Southern
Indiana as well as the interim dental assist-
ing program director. Her scholarly activities
include research in the area of electronic text-
books and other educational technologies.
Emily R. Holt, RDH, MHA, CDA, is an assistant
professor of dental hygiene and dental assisting
at the University of Southern Indiana in Evans-
ville, Indiana. She also practices dental hygiene
Indiana. She is a consultant member of the
North East Regional Board of Dentistry. ■
■ Online Resources
Resume Writing
How-write-a-resume.org
Tutorial for Creating an E-Portfolio
electronicportfolios.com/portfolios/howto/index.html
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