Lessons learned

When I first started this ePortfolio process, I told myself and others that I was going to stick with Google Sites as my platform. At first I didn't see any issues with Google, as I am an avid user of Google Classroom, Docs, Forms, Slides, and more. Other classmates in my Lamar Instructional Technology classes had heard and experienced issues with Google sites, yet I stayed strong. After asking my professor to give me feedback on what I had developed so far, I understood the reservations in using Google sites as a platform for an ePortfolio. I watched a video that my professor had made of himself exploring my ePortfolio. I watched in horror (and slight embarrassment) as my professor clicked links to documents that gave the dreaded "Needs Permission by Owner to View" pop-up box. This is a problem that I had experienced before when I had my students create a Google site for review material. While I had problems before, I just assumed that it was because the students had restricted access accounts set up by the school district. I never thought I would experience the same problems. Thus I experienced a problem familiar with economists called the Sunk Cost Fallacy. I would be an irrational economist if I had continue to stick with a choice that wasn't working just because I had spent hours of my time already poured into it. So I decided to transfer everything to a new and better platform. I received advice from other educators and researched which platform would be best for my ePortfolio and I found Wix.com. It took some missed successes (or failures, how others might put it) but I am happy with my choice and I believe this experience will definitely put me on the path for future success.

I've also spent some time, when researching other platforms, to view ePortfolios from current and former Lamar students and educators. Here are some things that I have learned:

1. Whatever platform you're using, make sure that it's easy to navigate: Links should work, menus should be organized and easy to understand

2. Speaking of Links... Use them in your blog: Earlier in this post I mentioned an economics term that might not be known by everyone, so I put a link that take you to an article that can tell you more.

3. Feedback should be welcome: Wix.com does a great job at allowing people to comment and contact the ePortfolio owner. While this platform does require a sign in to comment on blog posts, you can open an easy to use chat box that allows an instant message to be delivered to the curator.

4. Go the extra step: share your work experience, education background, books that you're reading, podcasts you're listening to, etc.

5. Add some personality: a little humor goes a long way. It's easy to blend in in the sea of blogs and vlogs on the internet. A joke, pun, or witty comment (professionally done of course) could be the thing to help you stick out and rise above the rest. Remember, an ePortfolio is a way to express your voice, shouldn't it do just that.

Resources:

Become A Decision Master: Recognize These 5 Sunk Cost Fallacies & You'll Make Stronger Decisions. (2019, March 31). Retrieved from https://www.fearlessmotivation.com/2019/03/31/sunk-cost-fallacy