using portfolios

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Using PortfoliosBlackboard Learn 9.1

Last updated: May 2010


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2010 Blackboard Inc. - 2 - Using Portfolios

2010 Blackboard Inc.

All rights reserved.

The content of this manual may not be reproduced or distributed without the express

written consent of Blackboard Inc. Users acknowledge that the manual, and all

copyright and other intellectual and proprietary rights therein, are and at all times shall

remain the valuable property of Blackboard and its licensors, or their respective

successors or assignees. Users agree to respect and not to alter, remove, or conceal

any copyright, trademark, trade name, or other proprietary marking that may appear

in the manual.

Blackboard, the Blackboard logo, and Blackboard Learn are either registered

trademarks or trademarks of Blackboard Inc. in the United States and/or other

countries.


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Table of Contents

1.0 Workshop Overview ................................................................................................... 5Roadmap ..................................................................................................................... 6

2.0 Portfolio Overview ....................................................................................................... 7

What is a Portfolio? ...................................................................................................... 8Personal vs. Basic ......................................................................................................... 9Portfolio Uses ............................................................................................................... 10Best Practice: Planning and Preparing Portfolios ................................................... 11

3.0 Creating Portfolios ..................................................................................................... 13Introduction ................................................................................................................ 14Creating a Portfolio ................................................................................................... 15Creating a Portfolio Page ......................................................................................... 18Creating New Artifacts.............................................................................................. 21Creating New Artifacts: Attaching Files .................................................................. 25Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 27Uploading Files to the Content Collection ............................................................. 28Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 31Customizing a Portfolio .............................................................................................. 32Customizing Page and Headings Titles ................................................................... 36Previewing a Portfolio ................................................................................................ 40Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 42Ask Dr. C ...................................................................................................................... 43Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 44


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4.0 Editing and Managing Portfolios ............................................................................. 45Introduction ................................................................................................................ 46Updating Portfolio Pages .......................................................................................... 48Updating Artifacts ...................................................................................................... 52Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 56Sharing a Portfolio ...................................................................................................... 57Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 62Downloading a Portfolio ........................................................................................... 63Hands-on Activity ....................................................................................................... 65Deleting a Portfolio .................................................................................................... 66

5.0 Viewing Portfolios ...................................................................................................... 67Viewing Received Portfolios ..................................................................................... 68Adding Comments .................................................................................................... 70Organizing Received Portfolios ................................................................................ 72

Workshop Wrap Up ......................................................................................................... 74Spotlight on YOUR Course ........................................................................................ 75


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1.0 Workshop Overview

This workshop provides a hands-on introduction to creating, customizing and managing

portfolios in Blackboard Learn.

First, you will look at how to plan a portfolio by collecting, organizing, and selecting the

best examples of your work.

Next, you will create the portfolio shell, add portfolio pages, and add content to those

pages. Content will be added in one of three ways: by entering text, by attaching files,

and by linking to files in the Content Collection. The benefits of saving portfolio content

as artifacts, which can be reused in multiple portfolios, will be emphasized.

Customizing your portfolio's appearance by changing colors, typography, layout, page

titles, and page headings titles is discussed in detail. You will learn to edit and manage

appearance and content independently, in order to update your portfolios more

efficiently.

Finally, you will learn how to preview your portfolios and share them with other users.

You will also view other users' portfolios, organize them for easier access, and add

comments.

NOTE:The directions and suggestions for using the Portfolios tool are written for students

and instructors who have access to the My Content area in the Content Collection. My

Content is a storage area for your electronic files. Instructors can have additional

permissions on other folders in the Content Collection, but we will focus on using the My

Content area.


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Roadmap

2.0 Portfolio OverviewPortfolio uses

Learn the definition and uses of electronic

portfolios.

Types of portfolios

Learn about the two types: Personal and

Basic.

Best Practice

Do some planning and preparation

before creating a portfolio.

4.0 Editing and Managing PortfoliosUpdate portfolio pages

Change page order or delete pages.

Update artifacts

Edit and overwrite existing portfolio

content by updating artifacts.

Share a portfolio

Allow others to view your portfolio.

Download a portfolio

Download a zipped file of your

portfolio.

Delete a portfolio

Delete portfolios from your collection.

3.0 Creating Portfolios

Add a portfolio

Create a shell for your portfolio pages.

Add a portfolio page

Create portfolio pages to organize your

content.

Add portfolio content

Upload and add content (artifacts) to the

pages within your portfolio.

Customize a portfolio

Change the look and feel to suit your

needs.

Preview a portfolio

View your portfolio before making it

available to others.

5.0 Viewing Portfolios

View received portfolios

View portfolios others have shared with

you.Add, view, and delete comments

Manage comments about your

portfolio.

Organize received portfolios

Organize portfolios others share with

you by creating folders.


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2.0 Portfolio Overview

In this section, we will consider different uses of portfolios and briefly compare the two

types, Personal and Basic. We will also discuss the importance of the planning stage in

the preparation of portfolios.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this section, you will be able to:

Explain how portfolios are used Explain the differences between Personal and Basic Portfolios Apply some best practices for portfolios


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What is a Portfolio?

Portfolios allow users to showcase both academic and professional achievements. Just

as an artists portfolio is ongoing, your electronic portfolio can document the evolution

of both your learning and work experience. Whether you are applying for graduate

school or a job, a portfolio is an excellent tool for displaying your goals, progress, and

successes. The following are examples of using a portfolio:

A film student can present screenplays and movie clips. A journalism major can showcase articles. A professor of archaeology can include field notes and photographs.

The Blackboard Learn Portfolios tool organizes and presents electronic examples of

your accomplishments, such as papers, images, projects, evaluations, and reference

letters.

You can create different portfolios to suit different purposes by reusing and reorganizing

content, and applying various styles. Portfolio content is saved separately in a central

location and can be reused in multiple portfolios.

Your portfolio can be shared with others so you can market your skills or receive

comments on your work from peers and instructors.

If your school has licensed the content management capability, you will see the

Content Collection tab. The Portfolios tool is accessed in the Content Collection.

Figure 1

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Personal vs. Basic

In Blackboard Learn, you can create two types of portfolios:

Personal Portfolio an enhanced Portfolios tool with more design options and theability to reuse content which can be linked in more than one portfolio.

Basic Portfolio a tool from earlier versions of Blackboard, it has fewer features. Ifyour institution permits, you can still access or create Basic Portfolios.

The following table lists some differences between Basic and Personal Portfolios:

Basic Portfolios Personal Portfolios

Content is created directly inthe portfolio.

Content created is saved as an artifact and canbe added to any portfolio.

Reusing content in multiple

portfolios requires manual

copy and paste.

To reuse content in multiple portfolios, find the

artifact and add it to each portfolio.

Portfolio content is updated

manually.

Updated artifacts and changes are reflected in

all of the portfolios containing links to that

artifact.

Changes can be made to the

navigation menu style only.

The portfolio appearance can be customized by

selecting the navigation menu style, colors, fonts,

and background images.

NOTE:This workshop focuses on Personal Portfolios.


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Portfolio Uses

Portfolios can serve different purposes in a variety of disciplines. The examples in the

following table show how portfolios can be composed of products: content

demonstrating mastery of tasks; or process documentation: content highlighting stages

of learning.

Area Example

English An English Composition portfolio includes examples of a students

best work: three creative writing pieces, a research paper, and a

persuasive essay.

Web

Design

In a Web Design class, snapshots of a students progress throughout

the semester are collected. Both student and instructor can view

the skill development from early Web pages to the final Web site

design.

Medicine Students use portfolios to reflect upon their field experiences. The

portfolios become a communication channel between the

students and their mentors.

Engineering A student uses a portfolio to record the process their group used to

cooperatively create a solution to a real-life problem.

Documenting the process and reflecting upon it increases the

students project management and collaboration skills.

Teaching Throughout a teacher education program, students develop tools

to use in the future, such as teaching philosophies, lesson plans,

and a list of resources. The portfolio showcases students' proficiency

in the programs best practices in education.

Fine Arts Portfolios enable students to easily provide examples of their talents

through video, audio, photographs, and scanned images of

original drawings and paintings. Students can download theirportfolios for use beyond graduation.


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Best Practice: Planning and Preparing Portfolios

Before you create a portfolio, it is a good idea to do some planning and preparation.

Start by examining different options for collecting and organizing portfolio content.

Collecting Your Work

At the end of each term, collect electronic versions of your work, such as assignments,

papers, and projects. If you only have paper copies and want to include them in your

portfolio, make a high-resolution scan of each document. You can save your files on

your computer or in My Content, an area within Blackboard Learn Content

Management for storing files. It is always a good idea to check to see if your institution

has a policy on where you can save your portfolio content.

Organizing Your Work

As you collect your work, start thinking about how to organize your portfolios. For

example, do you want to organize content by chronological order, subject matter, or

skills? Depending on the audience and purpose of your portfolio, one method of

organization may be better than another.

The following table describes three organizing methods.

Organizing

Method Example

Chronological

Order

Present your portfolio by years or school levels.

Subject Matter Show your progress throughout the years within the same

subject, such as English, math, or biology. This method offers

greater flexibility.

Skills Demonstrate through your education and work experience

that you have developed project management,

communication, and teamwork skills.

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Portfolio Overview: Best Practice: Planning and Preparing Portfolios


Selecting Portfolio Content

When deciding on which content to include, select items that will impress the people

who review your portfolios, such as prospective employers or admissions officers. It can

be tempting to include a large amount of content, but the reviewer wants to see only

the content that best represents your achievements and qualifications.

To keep content to a minimum, create different portfolios, each one tailored for

different audiences and/or purposes. Refer to the job or school application for

suggestions on what to include. If the application asks for a list of certain skills, such as

project management and presentation skills, make sure you include relevant examples

in your portfolio.


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3.0 Creating Portfolios

In this section, you will create a portfolio, add portfolio pages, and add content to

those pages.

Learning Outcomes


Create a portfolio Create a portfolio page Create portfolio content Customize a portfolio Customize titles Preview a portfolio


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Introduction

The following is the process for creating a Personal Portfolio.

Create a Personal Portfoliothis is the container for your content. Create one or more portfolio pagesthese are used to categorize and organize

content.

Create content on each of the portfolio pageslinks to your content arecreated. Each piece of content is called an artifact.

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Creating a Portfolio

The first step is to create a portfolio. The portfolio is empty until you add pages and

content.

You can create a portfolio with or without a template. Depending on your institutions

policies, you may be required to use a template that defines the page layout and style

for the entire portfolio. In our example, we will add a portfolio without using a template.

QUICK STEPS: adding a portfolio

1. On the Content Collection menu, click MyPortfolios.2. On the My Portfoliospage, click Create Personal Portfolioon the Action Bar.3. On the Create Personal Portfoliopage, choose Select Existingto use an existing

portfolio template, if one is available. Choose Create New, to build a new

portfolio not based on an existing template.

4. Type a Titleand optional Description, if your portfolio is not based on a template.If your portfolio is based on a template, you cannot type this information.

5. Click Submit.

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Creating Portfolios: Creating a Portfolio


Figure 1.1


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Creating Portfolios: Creating a Portfolio


Figure 1.2

NOTE:You are currently adding information to the Properties tab because Properties

controls the Title and Description of your portfolio.


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Creating a Portfolio Page

Now that you have added an empty portfolio, you can add a page to it. A page is

used to organize related content.

After you have added a page, you can add artifacts.

QUICK STEPS: adding a portfolio page

1. On the My Portfoliospage, locate the desired portfolio, and click the Action Linkto access the contextual menu.

2. Click Edit.3. On the selected Portfoliopage, under Edit Portfolio, click Build the Portfolio.4.

On the Edit Personal Portfoliopage, click Create Pageon the Action Bar.

5. On the Add Portfolio Page, type an optional Titleand a Description.6. Click Submit.

Figure 2.1

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Creating Portfolios: Creating a Portfolio Page


Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3


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Creating Portfolios: Creating a Portfolio Page


Figure 2.4

NOTE:You are currently working in the Build tab.


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Creating New Artifacts

In Blackboard Learn, each piece of portfolio content is called an artifact. Examples of

artifacts include a research paper, a graded exam, a reference letter, or a resume

anything that can be added to the portfolio to showcase your achievements.

The beauty of an artifact is, once it is created, it can be re-used over and over in

multiple portfolios. The portfolio can style it differently but it is the same artifact.. Further,

when the artifact is edited those edits propagate to all linked portfolios. We will follow

the steps of creating a new page and adding a new artifact in one process.

QUICK STEPS: adding a new artifact


2. Click Edit.3. On the selected Portfoliopage, under Edit Portfolio, click Build the Portfolio.4. On the Edit Personal Portfoliopage, click Create Pageon the Action Bar.5. On the Add Portfolio Page, type an optional Titleand a Description.6. Under Page Content, click Create New Artifact.7. On the Create Personal Artifactpage, type the artifact Nameand optional

Description.

8. Under Content, type the text in the Contenttext box, if you want. Format the textwith the Text Editor, if you want.

9. Attach a local file or link to a file in the Content Collection, if you want.10. Click Submit.

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Creating Portfolios: Creating New Artifacts


Figure 3.1

NOTE:You can also browse for a previously created artifact.


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Figure 3.2


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The following compares the three methods used to create artifacts.

Text Editor

Type the text and format it to create original material. You can also copy and paste

text from another source.

Example: Type a list of courses you have taken and save it as an artifact. Update this list

as you complete courses. If you only have paper copies of reference letters, type

excerpts from them and save it as an artifact.

Notes: This is an efficient way to present simple content, as no uploading is required. You

cannot save an individual artifact to your local computer.

Attach local file

Browse your computer to upload files and attach them. Different file formats are

accepted, such as .doc, .pdf, .gif, and .jpg.

Example: Attach cover letters, resumes, research papers, and digital photos saved on

your computer.

Notes: If you edit the file locally, you must update the artifact by attaching the file

again. Once the artifact is updated, changes are reflected in each portfolio containing

a link to that artifact.

Content Collection

Link to files you have saved in the Content Collection, in the My Content area.

Example: Attach an essay, spreadsheet, or slide presentation you have saved in My

Content.

Notes: If you edit a file, using Web Folders, that is saved in My Content, you do not have

to update the artifacts by reattaching files after editing. Changes are automatically

reflected in artifacts or portfolios containing a link to the file. If you want a copy of the

file stored locally, you must copy it to your computer.


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Creating New Artifacts: Attaching Files

In the previous section, an overview of the three methods for adding content to

artifacts was presented. Now we will look more closely at attaching files that reside on

your local computer or are stored in the My Content area in the Content Collection.

QUICK STEPS: attaching files in an artifact

1. On the Create Personal Artifactpage, click Browsefor Local Fileor BrowseforContent Collectionitem. A new window opens.

o For local files, locate the file on your computer and click Open.o For the Content Collection, select the file in My Content and click Submit.

2. Click Submit.

Figure 4.1

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Creating Portfolios: Creating New Artifacts: Attaching Files


If you are attaching a local file, a new window will display files on your computer.

Navigate to the file, select it, and then click Open.

If you are linking to a Content Collection item, a new window will display files in My

Content.

Figure 4.2

NOTE:Uploading files to the Content Collection is covered in the next section.


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Hands-on Activity

Create a portfolio

Create a portfolio and add three pages titled:

Courses Reference Letters Work Samples

Add content

Add two new artifacts. For the Coursespage, create a new artifact by using the Text

Editor, to create a list of courses. For the Reference Letterspage, create a new artifactand attach two local files: letter1.pdfand letter2.pdf.


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Uploading Files to the Content Collection

Storing files in the Content Collection has several benefits. You can access the files

anywhere there is an Internet connection. If you edit the file and save it in the Content

Collection, the changes are automatically reflected in your portfolio.

Before you can link to items in the Content Collection, you must first upload the files. The

files can be uploaded to either My Content, Course Content, My Institution or My

Course Files. Once there, you can attach them in artifacts. In the following Quick Steps,

we will add files to the My Content folder in the Content Collection.

QUICK STEPS: Uploading Multiple Files Using the Drag-and-Drop Function

1. Navigate to the My Content Content Collectionfolder.2. Click on the folder under Userswhere the files will be uploaded.3. On the Action Bar, point to Uploadto access the drop-down list.4. Select Upload Files.5. Select Multiple Filesat the top of the screen. The Upload Multiple Files and

Folderspage appears.

6. On your local drive, open the folder containing the files and folders to upload.Position the local drive folder next to the Upload Multiple Files and Folderspage.

7. Select multiple files and folders at one time by holding down the CTRL key whileclicking the files and folders to upload.

8. Press the files and drag them into the upload box on the Upload Multiple Filesand Folderspage.

9. The files and folders appear in the upload box. Click the Xin the Removecolumnfor any file you do not want to upload. You can open another folder on your

local drive and continue to add files and folders at this time.

10. Click Submit. A status bar will display the progress of your upload.11. You will receive a message that the Upload completed successfullyand a check

mark will be displayed in each files Statuscolumn. The files and folders willappear in the selected folder in My Content in alphabetical order.

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Creating Portfolios: Uploading Files to the Content Collection


Figure 5.1

Figure 5.2


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Creating Portfolios: Uploading Files to the Content Collection


Figure 5.3


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Hands-on Activity

Upload files to the Content Collection

Use the Web Folder to upload worksample1.htm, worksample2.htm, andresume.docto the Content Collection.

Link to a Content Collection item

Select your Work Samplesportfolio page and create a new artifact. Link toworksample1.htmand worksample2.htmin the Content Collection.


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Customizing a Portfolio

You can customize a Personal Portfolios colors, fonts, background images, and layout.

You can also add a header and a footer to further enhance the portfolio's

appearance.

Portfolio style features allow you to tailor the appearance to suit both your audience

and your purpose. For prospective employers, you may decide to go with a

professional layout, complimented by conservative colors and type. For a portfolio of

your digital photography, a more innovative and colorful layout may better showcase

your skills. Note that if your institution requires you to use a portfolio template, some of

these elements may be predefined.

QUICK STEPS: customizing a portfolio


2. Click Edit.3. On the selected Portfoliopage, under Edit Portfolio, click Edit Styles.4. On the Edit Personal Portfoliopage, note you are in the Styletab. Make

selections for how your portfolio will appear. The selections are described in

detail under the upcoming Take Note section.

5. Click SubmitNOTE:Headers and footers can be added to the portfolio from the Build tab.

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Creating Portfolios: Customizing a Portfolio


Figure 6.1

Figure 6.2


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Take Note

A. Select a Layout Theme option to define the position of contents and the locationof the navigation menu.

B. Select a Background Color from the drop-down list or browse for a NewBackground Image.

C. Select a Default Font, size, and color from the drop-down lists.D. Page Title Font Settings and Page Heading Font Settings are covered in the next

section.

E. Select options for both the Style of Navigation Menu and the Menu Font.F. The tabs at the top of the pageProperties, Style, Build, and Settings (shown in

Figure 6.1)can be visited in any order after the template has been saved once.

Moving from one tab to another automatically saves information entered on a

previous tab. Tabs can be marked in progress or complete by selecting thecorresponding option.


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Customizing Page and Headings Titles

You have the option to further customize the portfolio page titles and portfolio headings

titles. You can do the following:

Hide or show page titles and headings titles Use the default font for the portfolio Specify a custom font

By default, both page titles and page headings titles are hidden. If you want them to

be displayed, you must cancel the selection for this option for each.

QUICK STEPS: customizing page and headings titles

1. From the Styletab, expand the Page Title Font Settingssection by clicking theplus icon or collapse it by clicking the minus sign.

2. Make your selections.3. Expand the Page Headings Font Settingssection by clicking the plus icon.4. Make your selections and click Submit.

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Creating Portfolios: Customizing Page and Headings Titles


Figure 7.1


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Page Headings default font is the one selected for the Page Title Font. Select the radio

node next to Customize Page Headings Font to specify a different font and color.

Example: All Titles Shown

In this portfolio, all titles are set to show, but some could be redundant or ineffective.You can hide titles that do not enhance the readability of your portfolio pages.

Figure 7.2

In this example, the Page 1 title is not illustrative of the content, so it is wise to hide it.

However, the page heading title (artifact title in black bold) is necessary to explain the

link, as the file name in this example is not as descriptive.

Example: Page Headings Titles Hidden

In this example, the page headings titles (artifact titles) were identical to the artifact file

names, so they were hidden and only the page title was shown.

HINT:If you are hiding page headings titles, ensure that your file names are descriptive.

Figure 7.3


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Example: Page Headings Titles Shown

In contrast, showing page headings titles is especially useful if you manually create

artifacts using the Text Editor. Without heading titles, it can be difficult to see how

information is organized on the page.

Figure 7.4


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Previewing a Portfolio

As you create your portfolio, it is a good idea to preview it to make sure it appears as

you want. There are two simple ways to preview your portfolio. Preview your additions

and edits from the selected Portfolio page (Figure 8.1) and from the My Portfolios page

(Figure 8.2).

Figure 8.1 On the selected Portfolio page, click View Portfolio

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Creating Portfolios: Previewing a Portfolio


Figure 8.2 On the My Portfolios page, click a portfolio title to view it

With either method, the portfolio appears in a new browser window and displays the

first portfolio page.

Figure 8.3

Use the navigation menu to select the page you want to view. In the example, the

navigation menu runs across the top.


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Hands-on Activity

Customize your portfolio

Change the default appearance of your portfolio. Customize your portfolio styleto suit your taste.

Customize titles

Experiment with hiding and showing titles and using different fonts to decidewhich works best for your portfolio.

Preview your portfolio

View your changes. Make additional modifications until you are satisfied withyour portfolios appearance.


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Ask Dr. C

In the following table, Dr. C discusses reusing content items previously saved in Basic

Portfolios. Dr. C is our Blackboard Learn expert.

Your Question Dr. Cs Reply

I created portfolio items in

earlier versions of

Blackboard. Can I copy that

content and save it as

artifacts so it can be reused

in portfolios in this version?

If your institution allows students to access

portfolios from earlier versions of Blackboard

now called Basic Portfoliosyou can copy items

created using the Create Item function on the

action bar and save them as artifacts. Only items

created using the Text Editor, can be copied. Theartifacts can then be reused in your new Personal

Portfolios.

1. From your Basic Portfolio, find the item andclick Modify/Edit. The content appears in

the Text Editor.

2. In the Text Editor, toggle to HTML SourceMode, represented by the . Copy the

code.

3. In your new personal portfolio, go toPersonal Artifacts and click Create Personal

Artifact. on the action bar.

4. On the Create Personal Artifact page, typea Name and optional Description.

5. In the Text Editor, toggle to HTML SourceMode. Paste the code you copied earlier.

6. Click Submit. You can now reuse theportfolio item in Personal Portfolios.


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Hands-on Activity

Put it all together

Use your skills to put together a new portfolio from start to finish. Here is the scenario:

A student is applying for a position as a summer theatre camp director. Sheasked you to help her create a portfolio to use with her application.

The camp Web site suggests applicants provide a list of relevant courses andexperience, two letters of reference, and a brief personal statement explaining

their interest in the position.

Create a well-organized portfolio for this student. Add an artifact and use the Text Editor

, to list her courses (Advanced Stagecraft, Creative Drama, American Playwrights, and

Shakespearean Histories). Use the same method for creating the personal statement.

Since you have already created an artifact for reference letters (letter1.pdfand

letter2.pdf), reuse that artifact in this new portfolio. Hint:When adding page content,

browse for the existing artifact instead of creating a new one.


View the portfolio and make style changes to achieve the look you want.


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4.0 Editing and Managing Portfolios

In this section, you will learn how to update and share your portfolios.

Learning Outcomes


Update portfolio pages Update artifacts Share a portfolio Download a portfolio Delete a portfolio


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Introduction

Now that you have learned how to create and customize portfolios, we will look at how

to edit them. To make sure your portfolios are current and appropriate for reviewers,

update them on a regular basis. In Blackboard Learn, you can update portfolios pages

and artifacts independently.

Figure 1.1

Take Note

A. Click the portfolios Action Link to access the contextual menu and select Edit.B. If you have many portfolios, you can search by title or description.

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Editing and Managing Portfolios: Introduction


Figure 1.2 You can edit the portfolio properties, style, and settings.


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Updating Portfolio Pages

As you revise a portfolio, you can change the order of the pages and update a

portfolio page by changing the order of artifacts or by deleting artifacts. Deleting an

artifact from a page does not delete the artifact itself. The artifact is saved in the

Personal Artifacts area.

On the Portfolio page, under Edit Portfolio, click Build the Portfolio.

Figure 2.1

Next, the Edit Personal Portfolio page appears where you can change the page order,

create pages, or delete pages.

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Editing and Managing Portfolios: Updating Portfolio Pages


Figure 2.2


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Take Note

A. To update a page, click its Action Link to access the contextual menu and selectEdit. You can also delete the page from this menu.

B. Reorder the pages using the drag-and-drop function. Each page has a moveicona double-tipped arrow or handle. Press the move icon, and drag the

page into the new location, release the page to place its i new location.

C. Alternatively, click the Keyboard Accessible Reordering tool on the Action Bar.Click the page in the list to select it. Use the up and down arrows below the title

box to adjust the order. Click Submit. A pop-up box states: Items have been

reordered. Click Ok.

Click Submit on the Action Bar to save your changes.

Delete Artifacts or Change Their Order

Click a pages Action Link and select Edit to delete artifacts or change their order. The

Edit Portfolio Page appears. To reorder the artifacts, press the move icon and drag the

artifact into the new position.


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Figure 2.3

To delete an artifact, select the check box next to Delete and click Submit.


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Updating Artifacts

When you create an artifact, it is automatically stored in the Personal Artifacts area. This

is a central location where you can access and update artifacts any time. You can

update the artifact title, description, and content.

After an artifact is updated, its changes are automatically reflected in any portfolio that

contains a link to it.

QUICK STEPS: updating an artifact

1. On the Portfolios Homepage, click Personal Artifacts.2. On the Personal Artifactspage, click the artifacts Action Link to access the

contextual menu.

3. Select Edit.4. On the Edit Personal Artifactpage, make the appropriate updates.5. Click Submit.

Figure 3.1

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Editing and Managing Portfolios: Updating Artifacts


Figure 3.2


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Figure 3.3 Edit text in the Content text box as needed.


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If the artifact contains an attached local file and you want to replace it, you must edit

the file on your computer, and then attach it again.

NOTE:First, delete the currently attached file because it will not be overwritten. If you do

not, the attached file will be listed twice.

Take Note

A. You can browse for files on your computer.B. Under File Name, view the attached file.C. Click Mark for removal to remove unwanted files.

Update Artifact Files Using Web Folders

If your artifact contains a link to a file in the Content Collection, you can edit the file

stored in the Content Collection using Web Folders. Your changes are automatically

reflected in any artifacts that contain links to the file. It is not necessary to delete the

original file or reattach it in the artifact when it is located in the Content Collection.


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Hands-on Activity

Update your portfolio

Select one of the portfolios you have already created and make the following updates:

Change the order of the pages. Select one portfolio page and change the order of its artifacts. From the Personal Artifacts repository, edit a few artifacts. Select artifacts that will

give you practice in the different methods of editing: using the Text Editor,

editing a local file, or editing a file in My Content (resume.doc).


Examine your changes and make additional edits, if necessary. If you edited an artifact that is linked in two different portfolios, view both to see

your edits.


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Sharing a Portfolio

When your portfolio is ready for others to view, you can send it to other Blackboard

Learn users, such as instructors and students in your courses. If you created multiple

portfolios, you can choose which portfolios to share with others.

To share your portfolio with external users, such as prospective employers and recruiters,

you can email a link to them. Provide external users with a password and time limit for

viewing the portfolio, and include this information in your email.

Note:Before you can share your portfolio with others, you must make it available. On

the Edit Personal Portfolio page, select Available under Share Portfolio Settings.

QUICK STEPS: sharing a portfolio with a Blackboard Learn user

1. On the selected Portfoliopage, click Share Portfolio.2. On the Share Portfoliopage, on the Action Bar, click Share withto access the

drop-down list.

3. Select Users.4. On the Share with Userpage, under Choose Users, type a Usernameor Browse

for a user.

5. Under Email Information, select the check box next to Send Emailto notify theuser that a portfolio has been shared.

6. Edit the Subject, if you want.7. In the text box, type a greeting or a message for the recipient.8. Select the check box or boxes for copying options, if you want.9. Click Submit.

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Editing and Managing Portfolios: Sharing a Portfolio


Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2


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Figure 4.3

Users access shared portfolios on the Content Collection Navigation Pane under

Portfolios by clicking Received Portfolios or from the Portfolios Homepage.

Your portfolio can be shared with people who do not have accounts on the system. A

valid email address must be supplied for each recipient.


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QUICK STEPS: sharing a portfolio with an external user

1. On the selected Portfoliopage, click Share Portfolio.2. On the Share Portfoliopage, on the Action Bar, click Share withto access the

drop-down list.

3. Select ExternalUsers.4. On the Share with External Userspage, under Email Recipients, type an email

address in the text box. Separate multiple email addresses with commas.

5. Under Email Information, edit the subject, if you want.6. In the text box, type a greeting or a message for the recipient, but do not edit

the auto-generated link located in the text box. The system will automatically

replace the actual URL with PORTFOLIO_URL.

7. Select the check box or boxes for copying options, if you want.8. Select a Passwordand Expiration, if you want.

o Under Portfolio Password, type a password in the text box. Select thecheck box to include the password in the email message. If the password

is not included, provide the portfolio user with the password by other

means.

o Under Expiration, set a time limit for viewing the portfolio.9. Click Submit.


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Figure 4.4


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Hands-on Activity

Share a portfolio

Share a portfolio with someone in the class. Send a copy of the email to yourselfso you can see what he or she receives.

See for yourself

Open the portfolio from the email you sent to yourself.


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Downloading a Portfolio

You can download a portfolio as a zipped file and view the portfolio in a Web browser,

outside of Blackboard Learn. It is a good idea to download your portfolios to your

computer for safekeeping in case your institution has a space limit for each user, or if

there is a problem with the server.

QUICK STEPS: downloading a portfolio

1. On the selected Portfoliopage, under Portfolio to Go, click Package the Portfolio.2. Click Download.3. Save the zipped file to your computer.

Figure 5.1

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Editing and Managing Portfolios: Downloading a Portfolio


Figure 5.2


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Hands-on Activity

Download your portfolio

Download a copy of your portfolio.Preview your portfolio

Use the on-screen instructions in the interface to open the zipped file and viewyour portfolio.


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Deleting a Portfolio

When you no longer need a portfolio or have created a more up-to-date version, you

can delete it permanently from My Portfolios.

QUICK STEPS: deleting a portfolio

1. On the My Portfoliospage, select the check box next to a portfolio.2. On the Action Bar, click Delete.

Figure 6

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5.0 Viewing Portfolios

In this section, you will learn to view other users' portfolios, organize them for easier

access, and add comments.

Learning Objectives


View received portfolios Add, view, and delete comments Organize received portfolios


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Viewing Received Portfolios

You can access received portfolios from the Portfolios Homepage.

QUICK STEPS: viewing received portfolios

1. On the Portfolios Homepage, click Received Portfolios. Under this link, you cansee how many portfolios have been shared with you.

2. On the Received Portfoliospage, click the title of the portfolio you want to view.3. The portfolio opens in a new browser window.

Figure 1.1

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Viewing Portfolios: Viewing Received Portfolios


Figure 1.2 Click the heading title or the carat to sort portfolios by title, name, or date columns.

When you click a portfolio title, it opens in a new browser window.

Figure 1.3


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Adding Comments

When you receive a shared portfolio, it is helpful to give your feedback and

suggestions. You can do this by adding comments.

You can also view comments, respond to them, or delete them.

QUICK STEPS: adding a comment

1. Navigate to a portfolio.2. On the portfolio navigation menu, click the Commentslink.3. Click Add Comments.4. On the Portfolio Commentspage, type a Subjectand Commentsin the text

boxes.5. Click Submit.

Figure 2.1

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Viewing Portfolios: Adding Comments


Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3

You can edit and delete comments by clicking a comments Action Link to access the

contextual menu.


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Organizing Received Portfolios

If you receive a large number of portfolios, you can create folders to organize them.

QUICK STEPS: organizing received portfolios

1. On the Received Portfoliospage, click Create Folderon the Action Bar.2. On the Create Folderpage, type a Folder Name.3. Click Submit.4. On the Received Portfoliospage, select the check box next to the portfolio or

portfolios you want to move into the folder.

5. Click Moveon the Action Bar.6. On the Movepage, select the Destinationfolder from the drop-down list.7. Click Submit.

Figure 3.1

Figure 3.2

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Viewing Portfolios: Organizing Received Portfolios


Figure 3.3


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Workshop Wrap Up

The Workshop Wrap Up provides the opportunity to reflect upon what has been learned

by re-emphasizing key concepts presented in the workshop. A checklist is included to

help you determine what to showcase in your portfolio.

In this workshop, you learned how to:

Identify the difference between Personal and Basic Portfolios Collect and organize portfolio content Create a portfolio and portfolio pages Create artifacts by using the Text Editor, attaching a local file, or linking to a

Content Collection item

Customize and preview a portfolio Update portfolio pages and artifacts Share a portfolio with Blackboard Learn users and external users Download and delete a portfolio View and organize received portfolios Add, view, and delete comments


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Spotlight on YOUR Course

Before you start creating portfolios, it is a good idea to do some planning and

preparation. Assess and collect your content early. This will give you time to tailor your

portfolios for both your audience and purpose.

Use the following checklist to help you decide what to include in your portfolio. For

some of these items, note their current format (paper or electronic) and consider the

best method for adding them as artifacts:

Typing text in the Text Editor Attaching a local file from your computer Linking to a file you have uploaded to the Content Collection

Source Items

Education Schools attended Transcripts Diplomas, certificates, degrees, other credentials Workshops, seminars, conferences attended Internships Course descriptions Research papers Exams or test results Peer evaluations Group projects Other training

Professional

Experience

Job positions (titles, responsibilities, companies, dates) Contract positions (titles, responsibilities, companies,

dates)

Required skills Projects

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Source Items

Publications Achievements and contributions Professional development Professional memberships Performance evaluations Reference letters Client testimonials

Activities Volunteer positions Community service Sports Hobbies Travel

Awards Honors Scholarships Citations

Soft Skills

Communication skills Interpersonal skills Leadership skills Problem-solving and analytical skills Conflict-resolution skills Time management skills

using portfolios

Documents