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PortfolioGen allows you to customize your design and layout and create 1000's of portfolio designs

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Forget Resumes—It's 2017 and You Need a Personal Website

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Forget Resumes—It's 2017 and You Need a Personal Website

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The Online You

In the adult world, having an online presence means more than an Instagram account.

By Kara Mercer, Northern Illinois University

Graduation is coming, and the real world is right on its coattails.

You've applied to graduate school, but you want to keep your doors open, or you're ready to find a job, so you're vigorously searching Indeed for options. However, it's getting harder to stand out amongst the herd of job applicants.

A paper or .docx resume won't cut it anymore. To boost yourself to prospective employers, you should create an online portfolio. Your resume says what you have done as a college student, in neat bullet points and small font, but online portfolios can show employers what you've done in one helpful, interactive website.

While earning your degree, you'll want to become as marketable as possible, whether you volunteer at a local soup kitchen, apply for scholarships or join a student organization. You'll want to put all of your achievements in a neat, accessible place to show off during job interviews. An effective way of standing out to employers is making your achievements come to life in your own website. Employers want to see your hard work, so if you've created anything, like articles, photographs or digital art, your online portfolio is the perfect place to showcase your work.

Instead of printing everything out and wasting paper, you can create slideshows or embed your work on your website. If you haven't created anything and have only done volunteer work or won awards, you can hyperlink organizations or contact information to make it easier for employers to access. You can even add your online portfolio to your resume or cover letter. Employers can click a link on your resume to check if you've done the things you said you have, and they get a better understanding of what you're capable of.

Your online portfolio can also be a great first impression before you walk into an interview. Employers can see your creativity before they meet you, so your website may be what gets you through the door.

An online portfolio can increase your chances of being located on the internet as well, especially if you link it to your social media or professional profiles, like LinkedIn. Your website will help employers contact you too. With a website, every link is an individual URL, so you can provide employers with certain sections of your portfolio based on what kind of job you're applying for.

If something happens to your resume, you'll have everything stored on a website. Most phones have internet, so if you get into a situation where you lose your resume while you're in an interview, or you forgot your physical portfolio, you can pull up your website to show employers that you're flexible in any situation and creative enough to design something online. Also, if you share your social-media links on your website, it'll be easier for employers to sift through your profiles to make sure you're an ideal candidate. Potential employers can also see how you're promoting yourself and if you share your work on your social-media accounts.

To create your online portfolio, you'll need some tools. Website builders, like WordPress, Wix or Weebly, allow you to easily create an account and a website, so you can showcase yourself to the career world. All three websites are free to use, come with tutorials and have preset themes you can follow, so you don't have to be a Graphic Design major with coding knowledge to develop an online portfolio. It'll take some time to get used to the programs, but each website is user friendly.

With the ease of the internet, it's simple to find examples of good online portfolios to use as a guide, but you want to protrude from the sea of existing portfolios, so your website has to be eye-catching and easy to navigate.

Be sure that your online portfolio is simple. Don't get carried away with graphics, or select a theme with a moving background that ends up being more distracting than attention-getting. Choose complementary colors, and if you're unfamiliar with design, there are several websites to help pick a color scheme.

Like your resume, ensure everything is in an easily accessible category on the website. The categories on an online portfolio should be clear and easy to read. Utilize a navigation bar to make the most important information the most alluring and easily accessible.

You can test your website's accessibility by sending it to friends, so they can use it and tell you what may work better to navigate the website. If your campus offers career services, you can make an appointment to discuss your online portfolio with them as well. Being able to create an online portfolio is helpful for interviews or scouting, but it's also a huge confidence boost to have everything you've accomplished in your academic and professional career in one place. The website is also something you have created, so be proud of it.

When you have some free time (ha!) between sips of coffee and quizzing yourself on flashcards, try your hand at web design and dig out your resume, which may be due for an update. You'll become more marketable, creative and better off from it.

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Kara Mercer, Northern Illinois University

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Forget Resumes-It's 2017 and You Need a Personal Website

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By Kara Mercer, Northern Illinois University Graduation is coming, and the real world is right on its coattails. You've applied to graduate school, but you want to keep your doors open, or you're ready to find a job, so you're vigorously searching Indeed for options.

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Strikingly
Wix
SquareSpace
Weebly
Wordpress
Jimdo

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Create your free, one-page website in just a few minutes.

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I just spent three awesome days working with teachers (and parents) at Taipei European School, British Primary School Section, in Taiwan, and as always, even (especially) when I'm facilitating the conversations, I'm learning so much!...

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I'm Kim Cofino, a Technology and Education consultant here to elevate your school or business through the strategic use of current and emerging technologies. Let's collaborate to enhance your digital competency in this dynamic, interconnected, and ever-changing world. Learn More What I Offer Consulting Keynotes Workshops Coaching What Clients Are Saying She's helped transform student [...]

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17 Awesome Examples of Creative CVs / Resumes | Guru

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17 Awesome Examples of Creative CVs / Resumes | Guru

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It seems that the humble 2 page word document just doesn't cut it for those creative jobs anymore, standing out from the crowd is a must for those that want to bag the best opportunities. We have raided the Guru archives and found these amazing examples of highly creative candidates who have gone above and beyond the standard word doc.

With the average recruiter spending just 6 seconds reviewing a CV, never has "make first impressions count!" been more apt, check out these awesome creative CVs...

Download the above Resume Template here.

Download the above Creative CV Template here.

Download the above Creative Resume Template here.

If you love creative CVs then be sure to check out Professional CV Templates, 12 Brilliant CV Designs, Jeff Scardino and his amazing Non CV and The Wine Label CV Also keep tabs on our Pinterest board ( Not Your Average CVs - #NotYourAverageCVs).

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17 Awesome Examples of Creative CVs / Resumes

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It seems that the humble 2 page word document just doesn't cut it for those creative jobs anymore, standing out from the crowd is a must for those that want to bag the best opportunities. We have raided the Guru archives and found these amazing examples of highly creative candidates who have gone above and beyond the standard word doc.

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Matt Harris, Ed.D. - International EdTech Specialist - #EdTech | #GlobalEd | #EdLeadership | #eLearning | #DigCit

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Matt Harris, Ed.D. - International EdTech Specialist - #EdTech | #GlobalEd | #EdLeadership | #eLearning | #DigCit

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Matt Harris, Ed.D. -- International EdTech Specialist

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Matt Harris, Ed.D. - International EdTech Specialist - #EdTech | #GlobalEd | #EdLeadership | #eLearning | #DigCit

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EdTech | #GlobalEd | #EdLeadership | #eLearning | #DigCit

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Teachers, Build Your EdTech Portfolios | The International Educator (TIE Online)

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Teachers, Build Your EdTech Portfolios | The International Educator (TIE Online)

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Thursday, 8 February 2018
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS

Tweets by @teach_overseas

By Matt Harris

I suppose what I'm suggesting here is applicable to all educators, regardless of where they work, but we international educators are a bit different. Our average tenure in a school or country is less than four years. We work in schools that have little to no affiliation with one another. And we work with different curricula, school cultures, and resourcing systems every new place we go. Not to mention the languages and diversity of our colleagues, parents, and students. Of course, this doesn't just apply to teachers, but to school management and leadership as well.

With this amount of turnover and inconsistency, how do educators document their skills and abilities as they look for new jobs? Having worked in school leadership involved with teacher recruitment, I can attest to the fact that this is an issue.

When considering candidates, we rely on resumes and references, reinforced with Skype interviews and gut feelings. Unlike local school systems, we have few avenues through which to verify skills, trainings, or abilities beyond what the candidate provides. To boot, the non-standardization of university degrees and certificates makes evaluating formal education quite tough. In short, candidates have difficulty proving their skills and employers find it difficult to validate their claims.

There is, however, one area in which educators can document their skills and distinguish themselves from others: Educational Technology.

But why focus on EdTech skills? Unlike other pedagogic knowledge or curricular competencies that are non-standardized, EdTech is global. The use of technology to enhance learning works in every school, regardless of the operating system or the communications system they employ. A school may run the A Levels when an educator has only worked with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. However, the skills needed for collaborating with students using Google Drive are the same as those required for Office 365.

Further, schools are implementing EdTech more and more each year. In a large portion of international schools, technology usage for learning and communications is a core competency among educators. Schools are increasingly aware of the need to develop computational thinking in students, place greater emphasis on personalized learning, and strike a balance between student-created materials and consumed information. School boards are using technology-infused learning as a measure of their competitiveness in the global market and as a tool for recruiting students. Finally, the EdTech market for tools and services is one of the fastest growing in the world. It is no longer a case of asking can educators use technology, but rather how they should use it.

How then do educators differentiate themselves in their use of EdTech? By creating a portfolio of EdTech knowledge and accomplishments. A portfolio of EdTech skills can be demonstrated through certifications, recognitions, online presence, and a collection of learning activities.

Several EdTech companies offer certification programs for their products. They vary in depth and quality, but all of them demonstrate functional knowledge of tools and services found in schools. The better ones will start with tools knowledge then show applications of those tools in learning and assessment. Most of these certifications are free or low-cost and come with completion certificates that can be included in a portfolio. Examples of these might be the Microsoft Certified Educator or the Apple Teacher. By completing certification programs, educators show their technical knowledge, as well as their commitment to continued professional development and growth.

Beyond basic certifications, recognitions are available from both EdTech companies and educational organizations. Like certifications, these recognitions evaluate an educator's skills with technology and offer training, but they also recognize achievement in using EdTech for learning. Many of these recognitions include membership in worldwide professional learning networks at no cost to the school or the educator. Examples of these recognitions would include the Seesaw Ambassador Program, Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Certified Educator, or the CUE Rockstar. These recognitions demonstrate the teacher has access to resources and learning networks that can aid that individual's colleagues and improve the reputation of the school.

However, certificates and recognitions are tied to products or organizations. A well-rounded EdTech portfolio will include connections and contributions to the overall EdTech community. Educators should show they stay current on best practices and tools by being active in professional learning networks, reading publications, and engaging in social media. Yet, to truly demonstrate competencies in EdTech, educators need to contribute and have presence. They should maintain a Twitter account highlighting their work and the work of others. They should write articles or blog posts describing their successes. And most importantly, they should be easily searchable. The most organized educators will keep a blog or website with links to all their materials and networks. A simple link on a resume can direct schools to their work.

Finally, and most importantly, a strong EdTech portfolio should demonstrate actual learning activities and products of learning. Educators should outline what technology they used, how it was used, what lessons were taught, and what learners created through their experience.

Notice, I didn't say "students." A well-rounded portfolio will show student learning experiences and professional development activities the educator led or helped plan. When showcasing work, educators should include materials and activities rather than planning documents or assessment data. Educators can upload presentations, pictures, videos, or completed work to an organized website or blog. The same website can be used to develop online presence.

Again, by sharing a simple link to the site, a school will get a real sense of the educator's capacity to use technology for learning and, by extension, of their approach to the classroom.
An EdTech portfolio can be very powerful in helping to demonstrate an educator's skills and competencies with technology. It can supply talking points during interviews and perhaps give a leg up. However, a weak portfolio can be a detriment to educators' candidacies. If you don't maintain your sites, blogs, certifications, or presence, you may be perceived as lacking commitment or out-of-touch. An EdTech portfolio is a fluid entity that should be kept up to date. Refresh regularly, as with personnel records or a CV.

http://mattharrisedd.com

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Thursday, 8 February 2018 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS Tweets by @teach_overseas By Matt Harris I suppose what I'm suggesting here is applicable to all educators, regardless of where they work, but we international educators are a bit different. Our average tenure in a school or country is less than four years.

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Do I Need a Digital Teaching Portfolio? | Edutopia

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Do I Need a Digital Teaching Portfolio? | Edutopia

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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What type of website do you want to build? - Jimdo

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What type of website do you want to build? - Jimdo

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Mit Jimdo einfach deine kostenlose Homepage erstellen

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Blogging for Educators: Writing for Professional Learning (Corwin Connected Educators Series): Starr Sackstein: 9781483377797: Amazon.com: Books

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Blogging for Educators: Writing for Professional Learning (Corwin Connected Educators Series): Starr Sackstein: 9781483377797: Amazon.com: Books

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Teachers Who Stay Connected Teach Longer

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Teachers Who Stay Connected Teach Longer

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As a new teacher, the demands of the career can be overwhelming at times. During my first year of teaching, I felt alone and I was unsure about whether I was doing a good job. So I turned to the internet, and I was both surprised and delighted to find that there was a bustling teacher community around every corner.

Building community is essential for teachers to feel connected, supported, and to share their ideas with peers. And when teachers feel heard and supported, they'll be more satisfied with their career and more likely to stay in the classroom with the kids who need them. If you're a teacher with a strong support system, online communities and social networks can be a welcome addition. But if you feel a little more like you've been making a go of it alone, these spaces can be a much-needed lifeline.

Teacher blogs, Facebook groups, and Twitter are three online resources that have helped me to stay connected, engaged, inspired, and to continue learning with a community of like-minded educators.

Blogging

Websites like Blogger, WordPress, and Medium are filled with teacher blogs that share helpful resources, experiences, and connections. To get started, use a site like Bloglovin to find teacher blogs in your content area and grade level. From there, it's your choice to snag resources, comment, ask questions, and maybe even start a blog of your own.

I started my blog after a year of reading and reflecting on the ideas of other teachers. I saw the feedback and positivity they shared and I wanted to contribute. I also wanted to share what I know to help teachers who felt alone and unsure in their classrooms - much like I did at the start of my career.

If you're ready to blog, check out this Teaching Channel series with National Blogging Collaborative that will help you tell your teacher story.

And once you feel confident as a blogger, why not incorporate the practice into your classroom? Watch how one teacher took a leap into blogging and read about her journey here.

Facebook Groups

As I engaged with teacher blogs, I found out that teachers were coming together in Facebook groups such as 2ndaryELA that discuss all matters ELA - from writing assignments to analyzing text. Educators' Facebook groups gave me a safe place to learn about new ideas, ask questions, and find a way to solve problems in my classroom.

There are a ton of Facebook groups out there where you can build community - go out and explore to find the groups that are the right fit for you.

Twitter

Twitter is a place to be inspired to Teach Like a Pirate or try non-traditional seating.

Twitter is also a place to ask questions and share your expertise.

Twitter chats happen every day on every educational topic imaginable.

Twitter can bring your professional books to life. You can read your favorite book and then tweet the author to discuss a concept, or bring Twitter into the classroom and invite your students to do the same.

If Twitter is calling your name, check out Teach Thought's Cheat Sheet: Twitter For Teachers and learn more about getting started with Twitter in the classroom.

If you're not quite ready to go live on Twitter with your students, try this great strategy for Twitter-Style Exit Slips to get started offline.

And be sure to read about how Twitter saved one teacher by reigniting her passion for a career that can - at times - beat down and exhaust even the most motivated, caring teachers among us.

Whether you go the route of teacher blogs, Facebooks groups, or Twitter, find a teacher community to be a part of. The colleagues and friends you find there can talk you off the cliff, keep you energized, or inspire you to be the best teacher possible, every day.

How do you connect online? Which communities energize you and inspire you to be a better teacher? Add your favorites in the comments below.
Meagan England is an Instructional Coach and previously served as a K-8 Reading Interventionist and a fifth and sixth grade ELA teacher. She graduated from East Tennessee State University with a BS in elementary education, earned an MS in educational administration and supervision, and an EdS in curriculum and instruction from Lincoln Memorial University. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Lincoln Memorial University. Meagan also serves as a Hope Street Group Fellow, an Instructional Partners Curriculum Collaborative Facilitator, and an educational blogger. She co-founded Empowering Tri-State Teacher Advisory Group to provide educators with professional development and leadership opportunities to improve instruction for all students. Meagan is also an alumni teacher fellow for SCORE and America Achieves. Connect with Meagan on Twitter: @oodlesofteach.

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Teachers Who Stay Connected Teach Longer

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Whether you have a strong support system or you feel a little more like you've been teaching on your own, online communities and social networks can be a powerful tool for building teacher communities and keeping teachers in the classroom.