Using Introductory Videos to Enhance ePortfolios and to Make Them Useful in the Hiring Process
This article explores whether or not there is a more effective way to develop and present portfolios to make them more meaningful and usable in the hiring process. An example of a pilot ePortfolio, with an accompanying three to four-minute introductory reflective video highlighting the pre-service teachers’ beliefs about education, was shown to 15 practicing public school principals who represented a variety of school sizes, community locations, and grade levels. Semi-structured interviews addressing the potential use of ePortfolios and introductory reflective videos in the hiring process were conducted with participating principals. This article includes descriptions of how principals may make use of ePortfolios in selecting teachers. For instance, in contrast to the extremely minimal use of binder-based and traditional electronic portfolios, 93% of principals interviewed indicated they would use the introductory videos contained in the ePortfolios during the hiring process. This article includes a number of additional findings supported by rich qualitative data, suggestions for ways to improve on the pilot ePortfolio, and links to an example of the pilot ePortfolio (http://geturl.uww.edu/1o3) and to an example of the next version of the ePortfolio (http://geturl.uww.edu/1o2).
