Guidelines
E-Portfolios, Web Site Design
Copyright
©
2008
Diane Howard, Ph.D.
- Effective E-Portfolios Introduce You and Your Body of Work
- They clarify how you can serve others
- E-portfolios have elements that are organized to highlight your career development and services
- They should have the following basic components: captivating Front page, brief bio, and appropriate resume/s.
- Other posted features may be work samples, recommendations, curriculum vitae (for teaching or directing), photos, graphic designs, and blogs.
- Samples of Performance Studies Students' E-Portfolios:
Laura Gebhardt- http://www.freewebs.com/lbgeb/index.htm
Samantha Anderson- http://sjanderson.weebly.com/index.html
Megan Moore- http://meganfmoore.weebly.com/
-
Samples of Film, Graphic Design Students' E-Portfolios:
Holly Gaskamp- http://www.hollycopter.com
Janell Treece - http://janelltreece.com/About%20Me.html
-
Most recently one of the best free Web site service that we have found without ads has been Weebly.com.
Here are some other examples of student e-portfolios using Weebly.com:http://ashleybtaylor.weebly.com/index.html
http://kriskeyaprice.weebly.com/
http://catherinemartinez.weebly.com/
-
Here are some other kinds of samples:
Professional Director, Talent- Katsy Joiner- http://www.katsyjoiner.com/
Professional Photographer- Clayton Wallace- http://www.claytonwallace.com/
- An excellent Web site provides focused content, which serves the needs of
visitors.
(1) It has a clear focus and purpose.
(2) It is has been developed for specific audiences.
(3) Information and ideas on it support the overall purpose.
(4) It
provides primary sources, which are new and not readily available to intended
audiences.
(5)
These sources are clearly cited to communicate credibility, authority, and copyright
ownership.
(6) Effective Web pages include relevant information, engaging graphics, and useful links.
(7) Content on good Web pages is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
(8) Web authors
give evidence of their knowledge, experience, or expertise on their Web
pages.
(9) They provide
daily tips to keep visitors coming to the Web site and to communicate that
they are on the current, cutting-edge in their work (Cyber-Fair,
2001).
(10) Effective Web sites are
dynamic and on the cutting-edge.
(11) Current resources invite regular site visitors.
(12) Dynamic Web sites provide
visitors with means to interact, at least via e-mail contacts.
(13) Engaging Web sites have
humanizing elements.
(14) They facilitate meaningful and productive personal and professional
relationships.
(15) Inviting Web sites
foster community.
(16) They serve and
encourage a social group and following.
(17) Effective Web sites provide easy-to-find information. (They are not
overwhelmingly cluttered.)
(18) Effective Web sites
facilitate human communication and connection.
(19) Best Practice Web
sites are intriguing and substantive.
- The Home page of an effective Web site is attractive, inviting, focused, and humanized.
(1) It clarifies the purpose and content of the Web site.
(2) It is not too busy.
(3) It is visually engaging & humanizing (appealing colors, graphics, images,
photos
that are appropriate to purpose/audience).
(4) It effectively places a sweet spot that captures the eye of the
viewer (good photo, image, graphic design...)
See good use of a humanized, sweet spot in a photograph in the
St. Louis E-Magazine
(4) It appeals to and connects with viewers/audience.
(5) It is easy to read and navigate (Cyber-Fair,
2001).
(6) Examples of
Good Practice in Front Pages/Home Pages of Web sites
(UMHB students, alumni, faculty,
associates):
(a) E-Portfolios- Clayton Wallace's
Photography Portfolio;
Design Cru Portfolio,
Katsy Krebs' Talent E-Portfolio;
Step Rowe's Talent/Coaching
E-Portfolio
(b) Performing Arts Organization-
Ballet Magnificat
(c) Films- Bella,
Chronicles of Narnia,
Lord of the Rings Trilogy,
Amazing Grace,
The Passion of the Christ
(d) Churches-
Chesapeake
Church, The
Crystal Cathedral
(e) Youth Work-
Mark Howard- Work & Missions, Peake Youth;
Peake Youth Videos
(f)
Universities-
UMHB,
Kennesaw State University,
Northern Michigan
University,
Berkeley
- It is easy to navigate through a Web site, which is designed well.
(1) Information on each page supports the purpose of the Web site.
(2) The use of links, menus clarifies how to continue to explore an idea.
(3) Visitors know how to get back to the home & primary pages.
(4) Links to other Web sites contribute further, appropriate resources.
(5) The
links fit into the overall structure and context of the Web site.
(Cyber-Fair,
2001)
- Excellent Web pages are written and organized well.
(1) Effective Web pages have introductions, transitions, bodies, and conclusions that are written well.
(2) On an effective Web site order, structure, and presentation of information are logical and
easy to follow.
(3) Effective Web pages hold the audience's attention because they are interesting to read.
(4) Writing is simple, clear, direct, and active.
(5) Paragraphs are structured well.
(6)
There is a logical flow from one paragraph to paragraph and page to page.
(Cyber-Fair,
2001)
(7) Proper grammar and word-usage are used.
(8) Punctuation is appropriate and guides the reader through the text.
(9)
Spelling is correct.
- An excellent Web site has a pleasing and engaging appearance with a clear
presentation of material.
(1) The overall appearance and layout of pages enhance understanding of the content.
(2) There is an aesthetic and comfortable balance of easy-to-read titles, text, colors and
graphics.
(3) Graphics enhance without cluttering and confusing.
(4) Page layouts are clear, easy to follow, and display a consistent design theme.
(5) Headers and fonts contribute to the overall understanding and flow of information.
(6) Headers and fonts help to move the eye from main topics to supporting details.
(7) Colors, backgrounds, and text work together to create aesthetic but easy-to-read pages.
(8)
Icons, buttons and graphics contribute to the appearance and flow of information.
(Cyber-Fair,
2001)
(9) If headshots are used, they
should be professional.
(a) Headshots should convey energy and vitality.
(b) They should reveal the uniqueness of the person.
(c) They should be properly lit without shadows hiding features.
(d) Reflecting more than physical attributes, they should reveal the inner life.
(e) Don't smile at the camera for a headshot. Include the camera.
(Charles, J., 1998).
- An excellent Web site uses a variety of information tools and technologies, which are user friendly.
(1) Multimedia resources (sound, video, images, icons, graphics) contribute to the main purpose.
(2) The site works quickly and efficiently.
(3) Graphics load quickly, even with limited bandwidth.
(4)
Pages look good in text-only mode, when users have turned off graphics loading
into their browser.
(5) Pages look good in a variety of Web browsers.
(6) If
there are features, which demand higher bandwidth or sophisticated
end-user resources, an alternate low-bandwidth or text-only mode is provided.
(7) Links to other pages and to internal resources all work.
(8) Multimedia
resources, such as movies and sound, work properly on a variety of
browsers.
(Cyber-Fair,
2001)
- Web Site Builders
(a) You can use free web site builders to get started; but if they add distracting ads, move your site.
(b)
There are many easy-to-use types of software to build Web sites such as
Frontpage or Dreamweaver.
Anecdote-
One of the most amazing recent commercial success stories concerns the auction
Web site, ebay. Out of the recent crash of countless numbers of dot.com companies,
ebay.com survived. It continues to expand and prosper. eBay was designed as auctionweb.com
in 1995 by computer programmer Pierre Omidyar. It was produced with three workers, as a
modest Web site to facilitate auctions of computer parts and collectibles by connecting
buyers with sellers. The company now has millions of users, who buy and sell billions in
merchandise. eBay.com has an enthusiastically loyal following of clients, many whom have
built entire businesses on the Web site. Experiencing a kind of social life with each
other, as well, some meet in virtual space in eBay's chat rooms, giving advice to other
users. Some meet at visceral eBay gatherings. eBay.com makes money for itself, while
making it for others. This company used Internet technologies to enable small business
merchants to enjoy a social life with each other, while empowering them to efficiently and
cost-effectively reach a mass market.
(News Hour with Jim Lehrer , 2002)
Charles, J., Bloom, T. (1998). The Actor's Picture/Resume Book.
Theatre Directories:Dorset.
Cyber-Fair Peer Evaluation Rubric. [Online] Available
http://gsh.lightspan.com/cf/rubric/evalrubric.stm#http://gsh.lightspan.com/cf/rubric/eval
, 2001.
News Hour with Jim Lehrer (2002). Transcript, Spencer Michael's Interview.
Bidding
for success. [Online]
Available
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/july-dec02/ebay_8-15.html.
New Text Available-
Enhanced by Technology, Not Diminished:
A Practical Guide to Effective, Distance Communication
Contact Dr. Howard
dhoward@vvm.com
On-site and/or Distance
Communication Consultation
Professional
Resume |
Professional Vitae |
Performance Resume
|
Prof. Network
Perform./Comm.
Curricula
| Perf. St.
Syllabi
|
Public Speaking/Presenting
|
Professional Projects
Professional Communication Guidelines
|
Prof. Role Modeling
|
Publications/Presentations
Performances of Autobio. & Lit.
|
Professional Programs|
Productions
Performance Studies Students/Alum/Assoc.
|
Photos/Video/Audio
|
Home