I've searched the site, but still didn't find what I was looking for. I'm building a website to show case my work. What should my portfolio include? I need to create new pieces from scratch as most of my work stuff can't be used. Please share the types of e-learning/ID work you share. Thanks all!
I put together a demo on Salesforce.com, Google AdWords, Leading with Candor and Transparency (a couple of these were from job interviews). I also have a Brain Game that I created, a couple variable examples and an animation sample.
My portfolio is located at: heather-willis.weebly.com. I host the courses on ehost but use Weebly to edit because it is very user-friendly.'
Speaking for myself, when I've hired new IDs or Developers, I look mostly for a couple things....
A few short snippets of courses/media that help me understand what their capabilities are. For example 2-3 screens of a 40 screen course. Most busy professionals today don't have time to pour through super long examples. NOTE: I often ask candidates to create an example like this from a topic we provide as sort of a homework project
I look for entire outlines/storyboards of courses that show me they understand overall ID, chunking, sequencing, etc and how to "tell a consistent story" throughout.
Finally I look for examples of different media types. Show me an Articulate snippet. Show me a podcast clip. Show me a few pages from a training manual. etc. Naturally this goes to breadth of experience and comfort with multiple delivery methods.
What I usually don't care much about.... subject matter. I'm fine with looking at mock interaction on how to train your goldfish or a piece on how to read your business unit's P&L statement. So don't sweat the subject matter over much, just create some things you can have fun with and your talent will come through... you can always toss some boring business topics in if needed. :)
These are all great suggestions. As a Director of Instructional and Media Technology I'm often busy with the day to day operations of the department and get little time to sharpen my ID background. Working on a portfolio will help me to build up my various ID skill sets. I was concerned about the subject matter, but now I know that doesn't matter for the portfolio samples. Thanks.
Ditto to all of the above. I just want add, showcase the work that points in the direction where you want to take your career.
Keep them short; the purpose is to show your capabilities.
In my website I use the blog portion to provide more detailed information on interesting projects I've worked on, some of which are complex and/or the project involves skills other than development of learning media. Remember, we are selling all our capabilities and skills.
One word about the subject matter. In my experience I have had to work with content owners and project stakeholders who just don't have any design thinking, and some will look at the content thinking that you actually designed a course on "how to train your goldfish", and will ask questions about it. There should be some happy medium between not caring about the subject and being completely literal about it.
Ulises, this is really interesting. I work on gov't contracts, and most of my stuff I'm not really able to show slides of. I've been working through my skills in needs analysis right now the most (the stuff I'm doing currently leans more on documentation/preparing for an enterprise software to be released) and facilitation of learning. How do I showcase those kinds of activities without revealing anything sensitive?
Or should I just focus on making up interesting elearning/video clips/graphics, etc.? That wouldn't really showcase what I'm working on, though. Thoughts?
Hey Andrew! Thanks for posting your question.. that's a good one!
I would say if you can't use your existing work because it's sensitive, then make up your own samples of work that you can use. Maybe try creating a few samples for different industries, or for a variety of fields depending on what industry/ background you work in.
Or, you could try to re use your existing work but remove or change anything that's sensitive. Potential employers usually get it that you can't share real work from past clients, so they usually understand this.
Here are some articles on this topic that might help you out:
8 Replies
I put together a demo on Salesforce.com, Google AdWords, Leading with Candor and Transparency (a couple of these were from job interviews). I also have a Brain Game that I created, a couple variable examples and an animation sample.
My portfolio is located at: heather-willis.weebly.com. I host the courses on ehost but use Weebly to edit because it is very user-friendly.'
I hope that helps.
Chris,
Speaking for myself, when I've hired new IDs or Developers, I look mostly for a couple things....
What I usually don't care much about.... subject matter. I'm fine with looking at mock interaction on how to train your goldfish or a piece on how to read your business unit's P&L statement. So don't sweat the subject matter over much, just create some things you can have fun with and your talent will come through... you can always toss some boring business topics in if needed. :)
Good luck!
These are all great suggestions. As a Director of Instructional and Media Technology I'm often busy with the day to day operations of the department and get little time to sharpen my ID background. Working on a portfolio will help me to build up my various ID skill sets. I was concerned about the subject matter, but now I know that doesn't matter for the portfolio samples. Thanks.
Bob S, thank you, that's very helpful. I posted a question before I saw this.
Ditto to all of the above. I just want add, showcase the work that points in the direction where you want to take your career.
Keep them short; the purpose is to show your capabilities.
In my website I use the blog portion to provide more detailed information on interesting projects I've worked on, some of which are complex and/or the project involves skills other than development of learning media. Remember, we are selling all our capabilities and skills.
One word about the subject matter. In my experience I have had to work with content owners and project stakeholders who just don't have any design thinking, and some will look at the content thinking that you actually designed a course on "how to train your goldfish", and will ask questions about it. There should be some happy medium between not caring about the subject and being completely literal about it.
Thank you, Ulises, that's helpful. I've got to remember my objectives, in
other words.
That's funny about the goldfish. I guess my Facebook page for a Vampire
won't make the cut.
Peace,
Andrea
Ulises, this is really interesting. I work on gov't contracts, and most of my stuff I'm not really able to show slides of. I've been working through my skills in needs analysis right now the most (the stuff I'm doing currently leans more on documentation/preparing for an enterprise software to be released) and facilitation of learning. How do I showcase those kinds of activities without revealing anything sensitive?
Or should I just focus on making up interesting elearning/video clips/graphics, etc.? That wouldn't really showcase what I'm working on, though. Thoughts?
Hey Andrew! Thanks for posting your question.. that's a good one!
I would say if you can't use your existing work because it's sensitive, then make up your own samples of work that you can use. Maybe try creating a few samples for different industries, or for a variety of fields depending on what industry/ background you work in.
Or, you could try to re use your existing work but remove or change anything that's sensitive. Potential employers usually get it that you can't share real work from past clients, so they usually understand this.
Here are some articles on this topic that might help you out:
https://community.articulate.com/articles/what-to-include-in-an-e-learning-portfolio
https://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/create-e-learning-portfolio/
https://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/what-needs-to-be-in-your-e-learning-portfolio/
https://community.articulate.com/articles/show-us-your-elearning-portfolio
Hope you find these helpful :)
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