I work for an art and design career college where students
can earn an Associate of Applied Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in
Graphic Design or Fashion Design and Merchandising. Students are required to
take a portfolio class where they fine tune their work for presentation to
possible employers. In the past, Graphic Design students only had to present
fifteen of their best pieces in printed form while the Fashion Design students
needed only to have photos of their designs ready to be shown. Now, all
students—Graphic Design and Fashion Design enrolled in either the Associate of
Applied Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts program—are required to not only
present their best pieces in printed format and photos but also have a digital
portfolio available for possible employers on a CD and through a website that students
must create and maintain. As a current student, and even after graduation, the
school offers free web space for the student to use. The domain name will
include the name of the school and students are highly encouraged to purchase
their own domain name and find web hosting of their own to better advertise
their work. Students who do not successfully complete a digital portfolio and maintain
a website with access to their portfolio but have all the other necessary requirements
receive a failing grade and are unable to graduate. In some cases, this seems
like a harsh punishment for students, but in reality, if students graduate with
a weak portfolio it not only puts students at a disadvantage, but it also makes
the school look bad. Employers will begin to wonder why a student was able to
graduate if he/she is unable to present their work in a presentable manner.
For many students in the art and design field, a digital
portfolio is a must, but what about students majoring in Science or English? Can
websites and electronic portfolios really assist these students in finding a
job? In some ways, I think they do, but in other ways, I think they can hinder
someone in finding a job. For example, what would a Biology major include on
their website? Unless they have completed research and include links to their
published work, what else would they include? An employer many not be as
impressed at a Biology major having an electronic portfolio or website. I can
see benefits for an English major having a website to promote their writings if
they were looking to be published; however, this can lead to people possibly
stealing their work and publishing it themselves.
For academic purposes, I feel that having a professional
website is important. For students enrolled in distance education, instructors
will be able to get a feel for who a student is and can build a rapport with a
student through the student’s website. Other students and classmates can also
learn more about each other by viewing past work and current work; however,
this may also lead to plagiarism opportunities. When the internet is involved,
contributors and participants need to be cautious about what is presented and
available. Some universities that ask students to have an electronic portfolio
or a website offer free web space and only allow those on the specific network
to gain access to the a certain electronic portfolio/website. In some ways this
is great—especially for those weary of putting their work online—and in other
ways this does not allow the world to see what you are capable in your line of
work.
One large challenge that needs to be overcome is fear of the
internet. The internet is a great invention that will open the door of opportunity
for you in many ways. Once you come to that realization, media avenues such as electronic
portfolios and personal websites can help you achieve your career goals.
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