ePortfolios at Saddleback College
ePortfolios provide a great way for you to track your progress in reaching key learning outcomes while working towards your degree, to reflect on your learning experiences, and to organize all your educational and career milestones in one location.
While at Saddleback College, your professors may require you to upload an important “signature assignment” from the class to your ePortfolio and then to write a reflection on the assignment.
More than just a list of grades as you would find on a transcript, your ePortfolio is a place for you to demonstrate what you have learned and to document your achievements while at the college and beyond. Because you can share your ePortfolio with whomever you choose, it is also an exciting way for you to “show off” to others, such as prospective employers, scholarship committees, or even college admissions officers. You can also take your ePortfolio with you when you transfer, go to graduate school, or move into the workforce.
ePortolios also provide a way for Saddleback College to know how well our students are meeting the learning outcomes that are essential to their success so that we can track our own effectiveness.
In 2015-2016, Saddleback College is embarking on the first year of our ePortfolio initiative. Your participation in this project, as well as your feedback, will be invaluable in helping students in the coming years.
Thank you!
Steps in Creating your ePortfolio
Step One: Get Informed
- Read through this handbook.
- Go to watch the introductory videos on ePortfolios and how we will be using them at Saddleback College.
Step Two: Pick a Platform and Learn How to Use It
- Select the platform you would like to use to create your ePortfolio. We have selected two free online platforms: Jimdoand Wix.
- Go to watch the instructional video on the platform you selected.
Step Three: Build your ePortfolio
- Build your ePortfolio using the structure shown on page 3 of this handbook.
- If you need assistance, you can contact Lucy Luna at the Student Technical Support Desk located in the Learning Resource Center (LRC). She is located in LRC 305, and can be contacted at or 949-582-4875.
Step Four: Submit the Address of your ePortfolio
- Submit the URL (address) of your ePortfolio’s Welcome page to your professor.
How to Structure your ePortfolio
Saddleback College requires that you follow a standard outline for your ePortfolio. Beyond that, we encourage you to use your imagination and creativity to make your ePortfolio uniquely yours. Use the chart below to structure your ePortfolio.
The headings in the top row are to be used as the standard tabs within your ePortfolio and the bolded titles in the second row are to be used as standard subsections. Additional tabs and subsections can be added as desired. More detailed instructions on each of the tabs and sections follows this chart.
Welcome / Reflections on Institutional Oucomes / Classroom Experiences / Real-world Experiences / ResumeWelcome
Use this section to welcome visitors to your ePortfolio.
About Me
Introduce yourself. Tell visitors a little bit about yourself such as your background, hobbies, interests, and any other interesting information. You want to show what makes you and your experiences unique.
Short-Term Goals
Long-Term Goals / Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs)
Here you will paste a list of Saddleback College’s ISLOs (see pages 5-7 below). When you complete an assignment which meets one of the ISLOs, you will write a brief reflection paragraph on what you attained personally through the assignment. / Here you will post classroom assignments/
activities that help you meet the college’s ISLOs. / Here you will post real-world assignments/
activities that help you meet the college’s ISLOs. These can include course assignments such as service learning or internships, extra-curricular activities such as student clubs, or work-related experiences. / Resume
Welcome Page
This page includes four sections: a general welcome, some information about yourself, a list of your short-term goals, and a list of your long-term goals. Please follow the instructions below for each of these sections.
Welcome
Welcome visitors to your ePortfolio by simply describing your ePortfolio and its purpose. You might, for example, let them know that you are a student at Saddleback College and have created this ePortfolio as a way to track your progress as you work on your AA or AS degree.
About Me
Tell visitors a little bit about yourself such as your hobbies, likes, dislikes, and other interesting information.
Short-Term Goals
Include a bulleted list of your educational and/or career goals for the next semester or two. This list may change frequently as you work towards your degree. Examples of short-term goals are:
- Create my ePortfolio
- Pass all my courses with a B or better
- Get a part-time job
- Attend some of the career workshops
- Improve my writing skills
Long-Term Goals
Include a bulleted list of your educational and/or career goals for the next 2-5 years. Examples of long-term goals are:
- Transfer to UCLA
- Finish a B.A. in History
- Get a summer internship working as a congressional aide in Washington D.C.
- Apply to a Ph.D. program in international affairs
Reflections on Institutional Outcomes Page
The Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs)reflect the set ofknowledge, skills, and abilities that you should expect to acquire as the result of your Saddleback College degree or transfer program. These alignwith both the General Education requirements that all students are expected to complete as well as more specialized knowledge within your particular field of study.
Start by copying the complete list of Institutional Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) listed below onto the ePortfoliopage. As your professors tell you which assignments meet a particular ISLO, you will post the assignment under the correct tab (either Coursework Experiences or Real-world Experiences), reflect on your progress and attainment of the ISLO here, and create a link to the assignment.
I. Effective Communication
a. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to understand, evaluate, and analyze readings from a variety of texts and to apply that ability in academic, personal, and professional contexts.
Reflection:
b. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to clearly express themselves and the knowledge they have attained in various forms of writing.
Reflection:
c. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to orally communicate ideas to others in a clear, coherent, and structured fashion when speaking in one or more of the following modes: interpersonally, in small group settings, or in public presentations.
Reflection:
II. Intellectual and Practical Skills
a. Students will be able to demonstrate competence in fundamental computing and information technology.
Reflection:
b. Students will be able to demonstrate competence in scientific and quantitative reasoning necessary for informed judgment and decision-making.
Reflection:
c. Students will be able to conduct effective research, including the identification, evaluation, synthesis, and responsible use of sources and information.
Reflection:
d. Students will be able to analyze information and ideas independently and logically in order to arrive at reasoned, meaningful, and creative conclusions.
Reflection:
e. Students will be able to work with others to develop creative, logical, and reasoned solutions to problems.
Reflection:
f. Students will be able to develop cognitive, physical, and affective skills which will afford students the opportunity to be well-rounded individuals.
Reflection:
III. Community/Global Consciousness and Responsibility
a. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of cultural diversity and awareness of multiple perspectives in the U.S. and globally.
Reflection:
b. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate and interact with others in academic, personal, and professional contexts.
Reflection:
c. Students will be able to demonstrate awareness of the necessity for social responsibility and accountability of citizenship in a democratic society.
Reflection:
d. Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of the necessity for ethical conduct in academic, personal, and professional contexts.
Reflection:
IV. Breadth of Subject Area Knowledge
a. Students will be able to describe the scope, key principles, and defining framework of the discipline of study within the natural sciences and mathematics, including an understanding of the methods of scientific inquiry.
Reflection:
b. Students will be able to describe the scope, key principles, and defining framework of the discipline of study within the arts and humanities in order to understand the rich history of human knowledge, discourse, and achievements.
Reflection:
c. Students will be able to describe the scope, key concepts, and defining framework of the discipline of study within the social and behavioral sciences in order to understand the complexities of social interactions and human experiences.
Reflection:
Classroom Experiences Page
Here you will post course assignments/activities that help you meet the college’s ISLOs. Your professors might tell you that a particular assignment helps meet the Written Communication ISLO (I.b.) and ask you to post your completed assignment to your ePortfolio.
You are encouraged to add information and reflections from any classroom experience that you believe helped you make progress to an ISLO. It does not need to be one identified by an instructor for you. You can also discuss multiple assignments for a single ISLO, particularly if you are able to demonstrate improvement in that area.
Examples:
For II.a. Attach an Excel file, PowerPoint file, flyer, or other work done for a class assignment for which you used computer technology. Describe the skills you used to create it.
For I.c. Attach a video or photos of your participation in a class presentation, debate, or oral competition. Describe the assignment, your preparation for it, and a reflection on the overall experience. Discuss how you have grown in oral communications.
Real-world Experiences Page
Here you will post real-world assignments/activities that help you meet the college’s ISLOs. These can include course assignments such as service learning or internships, extra-curricular activities such as student clubs, or work-related experiences. You are encouraged to add information and reflections from any experience that you believe helped you make progress toward achieving an ISLO.
Examples:
For III.c. Report your participation in Earth Day activities on campus.
For III.b. Report on an interview you conducted with a professional in your field, a business, or other individual. Describe what you learned about oral communications by doing this.
For III.a. Report your experiences on a trip to another city, state, or country, and describe what you learned about other perspectives, life styles, and behaviors.
Resume Page
The Resume page provides a space for you to develop your resume and post it for potential employers to view. Examples of resumes are provided on the ePortfolio webpage at
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is an ePortolio required?
A: At this point, the ePortfolio is not required to graduate, but may be required work in an individual course. However, you only have to build your ePortfolio once and simply upload the assignments and write short reflections in the courses that require them.
Q: Will I receive grades for my ePortfolio?
A: Each professor will determine how much the ePortfolio assignment upload and reflection will count towards your grade in that course.
Q: Which platforms do I use to construct my ePortfolio:
A: You may select either Jimdo or Wix to create your ePortfolio. These are the only platforms for which we will be able to provide technical support. The benefits and drawbacks to each site are discussed on the ePortfolio website at
Q: How much freedom do I have in designing my ePortfolio?
A: All ePortfolios must have the required structure as indicated on page 3. Beyond that, you are completely free to design the ePortfolio and to include other materials as you see fit. In fact, we encourage self-expression on your ePortfolio.
Q: Are there campus resources to help me construct my ePortfolio?
A: Yes, the Student Technical Support Desk can assist you with using Jimdo or Wix to create your ePorfolio. The Support Desk is located in the LRC. Check the website ( for hours of operation and phone assistance.
Q: What kinds of things can I post to my ePortfolio?
A: You will primarily be posting documents for the assignments that meet the various Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) of the college, as well as reflections on those assignments. However, you can post other items as you see fit, such as photos, videos, audio files, and links to other sites.
Q: What is a reflection?
A: A reflection is a short statement that allows you to think about what you learned through a particular assignment or activity. Your professor may give you a specific prompt to address in your reflection such as:
- How does your performance on this assignment demonstrate achievement of, or progress toward, a particular learning outcome?
- What impact did this assignment have on your understanding of the world? Did it challenge any of your assumptions?
- Why did you pick this assignment to put in your ePortfolio? What does it demonstrate about your learning?
- How did this assignment/activity enable you to demonstrate the growth/change/progression you have had in this class?
Q: How much personal information should I put in my ePortfolio?
A: You should only include information that you feel comfortable sharing. You do not have to put your photo, full name, address, email address, or other personal information on your ePortolio. This is meant to be a public showcase of your educational and career accomplishments, and only you will determine what should be included and how it will be displayed. The primary audience for your ePortfolio should be your professors and others with whom you would like to share information.
Q: What if one of the platform sites loses my data?
A: Saddleback College is not responsible for the performance of the third-party sites. All work that you post to your ePortfolio should be saved on your computer as files in case of lost data.
Resources
JImdo - Getting Started Help Center -
Wix - Getting Started Help Center -
Revision: 11/12/15