Q: What do I need to start my ePortfolio?

A: First:

• Check with your Department/Course to see if they prefer that you use a specific template or require that you use
• Special ePortfolio software (such as eFolio, KEEP Toolkit, Taskstream, ICAP).
• If you are interested in creating an ePortfolio for your own academic or professional use, we have general ePortfolio templates available for all students to use. You are free to use any of the available templates, or create your own.

You may also want to look at the general information about web-publishing @ SFSU for some great tips.

Still have a question about which approach to take to creating your portfolio? or Please contact ePortfolio support.

Q: I want to use my SFSU web space for my ePortfolio. Where do I start?

A: Go to "Getting Started" in our web-based tutorial. You will find a step-by-step tutorial, free web-editor to download, and sample templates to use in publishing your ePortfolio.

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Q: What is appropriate content to put into my ePortfolio?

A: Your department or course may have specific requirements, and there are general guidelines in the getting started tutorial.

Examples of appropriate content include:

• Reflection(s) on what you have learned;
• A mission statement or philosophy relating to your area of expertise;
• Examples of your best work (in any digital medium);
• Proof of subject matter competency in your major;
• Internship or work experience, skills, and experience.
• Your resume.

Click here for help writing your resume

Take a look at some of the ePortfolios in our Gallery for further ideas:

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Q: How do I publish my ePortfolio?

A: Once you have created your ePortfolio, you will need to load your entire website to your "public_html" folder on the SFSU server. The hostname is: userwww.sfsu.edu. Go to the tutorial for step-by-step web-publishing instructions.

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Q: What is my URL?

Your personal URL website address will be: http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~mymailname

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Your user name is the unique part of your SFSU email address, "mymailname", that precedes @sfsu.edu. For example, if your SFSU email address is jsmith@sfsu.edu, then your user name is jsmith. The password is the same as your SFSU email password.

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Q: I don’t have my email name or password. Help!

If you don't have your email name or password, login to MySFSU and follow the email options links.

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Q: Who can see my ePortfolio?

Anything that you publish within your SFSU web space can be seen by the web-viewing world. Protect your privacy, and avoid publishing anything that may be self-incriminating or harmful to your professional reputation. Please review your site for usability, accuracy, spelling, and completeness. You may be asked to share your ePortfolio within individual courses, or as a requirement in your major.

• Protect your privacy - Convert to PDF for free

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Q: How do I update my ePortfolio?

Update your ePortfolio using the same software applications you used to create your ePortfolio, and then load your updated files to your SFSU web space site, in your public_html folder.

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Q: I want to list my ePortfolio with search engines. How can I do this?

You can submit the URL of your website to specific search engines for free: Google, Yahoo, MSN and more, or you can pay fees to specific search engines, and directories. You can also link your personal blogs or other web site or web groups to your SFSU website but please use discretion.

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Q: What happens to my ePortfolio after I graduate from SFSU?

Currently your ePortfolio website will be hosted for 6 months past graduation. Plans are underway to allow alumni association members to keep their ePortfolio sites indefinitely.

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Q: How can I "pack it up" to take it with me and re-launch it in another domain?

We recommend that you take this step after graduation. Your entire website is stored on the SFSU server in a folder called "public_html". To download your site, connect to your remote site on the server, and then select the "public_html" folder, and download or "get" the entire folder/site.

• After you have successfully downloaded your entire site to your local computer, test it to be sure it is complete and has the exact same file/folder organization. Make sure it is properly formatted. Check if any of the image, URL or email links are broken. You should then burn these files to a CD as a backup. You can reuse/edit/load your site at a later date if you need to. The text or graphics might be useful to you even if you entirely redesign your website.
• Contact your web hosting service for specific instructions on uploading your ePortfolio files.

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