E-Portfolios

Lawrence began an e-portfolio initiative with students in education and music education in the fall of 2003. The office of instructional technology developed Dreamweaver templates and provided training and support for those programs. Later, the Japanese, Spanish, and Russian departments also began developing e-portfolios with those same templates. In the fall of 2006, we began a transition to a web service called LiveText.

Guidelines

+ How to Build an Impressive Teaching Portfolio [PDF by Bob Williams]

LiveText

+ Purchasing LiveText

Visit http://www.livetext.com
Click "Purchase/Register" at the top
Click "Purchase Membership"
Fill out the forms, selecting the "Standard Edition"

+ Getting Started

Creating your portfolio

Click the "Documents" tab near the upper left corner.
To create your portfolio, click the New button.
Under Choose a folder... select Portfolios under "Lawrence University".
Under Choose a template... select the appropriate template.
In the Title field, enter a name for your portfolio like this:
- John Smith's Music Education Portfolio
Leave the Description field blank and click the Save as New Document button.

Adding the Lawrence Teaching Standards set

Click the "My Account" link in the upper right corner.
Click the Edit link (at the far right) next to Standards Sets.
Click the Add button.
Keep clicking the last page number near the top of the page until you reach the W's.
Keep moving forward or back a page number until you see "WI-LAWR-TEPS-2010".
Check the box next to WI-LAWR-TEPS-2010.
Click the Add button above the list.

Changing the design of your portfolio

Open your portfolio document.
Click the Edit Properties tab.
Select an option next to the Style Set menu. Please do not change the Type (Portfolio) or Layout (Multiple Page) of your document.

+ Editing LiveText Portfolios

Online Help and Support

We recommend that Mac users use the Firefox browser to access LiveText. Firefox is installed on all Lawrence computers and can be downloaded at no cost to your personal computer from: http://firefox.com
LiveText has a very useful online help section, accessible by clicking the Help button in the upper right corner.
You can also email: support@livetext.com or phone (866) 548-3839 and ask for technical support.

Adding a section to an existing page

Open your portfolio.
Click on the page (Introduction, Philosophy, etc.) that you want to edit.
Click Manage Sections on the right.
Click the Create Section button and select Text & Image.
Give the section a name.
Click the section's link to edit it.
Enter and format text as necessary and then click one of the Save or Cancel buttons in the upper right.

Adding an image to a section

Note that a section can only contain a single image; add additional sections as necessary to display multiple images on a single page.

An image can only be added to an existing section. If necessary, follow the steps above to add a section.

Edit the section you wish to add the image to.
Click Edit next to Inserted Image near the bottom of the page.
If the image was previously uploaded, select it from the list by clicking the Select button.
If the image is not yet in LiveText, click Upload New File, click the Choose File button and browse to an image on your hard disk.
Adjust the options to set the position and size of the image.
Click Save Changes to continue editing the section or click Save & Finish to return to the section.

Adding an attachment to a section

A section can contain multiple attachments. Don't forget to use PDFs to ensure compatibility for your viewers!

An attachment can only be added to an existing section. If necessary, follow the steps above to add a section.

Edit the section you wish to add the attachment to.
Click Edit next to Inserted Files (under File Attachments) near the bottom of the page.
If the attachment was previously uploaded, select it by clicking the Add button.
If the attachment is not yet in LiveText, click Upload New File, click the Choose File button and browse to select a document on your hard disk.
Click Save & Finish to return to the section.

Adding a new page to your portfolio document

Open your portfolio document.
Click Manage Pages near the top.
Click the New button and enter a title.
If necessary, use the Page Order button to rearrange the pages.

Converting a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document to a PDF for use as an attachment

From a Mac:
1. select File >> Print
2. click on PDF in the lower left and select Save As PDF.

From a Windows PC in the Humanities Computing Lab (Main Hall 108) or from any PC with Office 2007 installed:
1. Click the Office Button (upper left corner) and select Save As >> PDF or XPS.
2. Select PDF for the format.
3. click Publish to convert the document's format and save a PDF.

Pasting from MS Word in Live Text (PDF)

+ Sharing and Submitting LiveText Portfolios

Important differences between Sharing and Sending portfolios

Sharing a portfolio grants users access to the live, most current copy of a portfolio.
Sending a portfolio sends a copy of the document and future changes are not viewable by the recipient unless the document is re-submitted.
Sharing allows recipients to simply view the document (you should rarely, if ever, need to use the "Share with Editors" option).
Sending allows recipients to add comments to any section in your portfolio.
Shared portfolios can be "unshared" at any time.
We recommend that you SHARE with STUDENTS and that you SEND to INSTRUCTORS.

Sharing your portfolio with other LiveText users

Open your portfolio and click the Share button near the top of your document.
Enter the first few letters of the user's name in the Search Viewer box and wait for the full account name to pop up.
Select the user's name and click the Add to Share button (the document will not be shared until you click the Add to Share button).
To "unshare" a previously shared document, click the Share link near the top of your document, click Advanced Sharing Options and remove the user(s) whose access you wish to revoke by checking the box next to their name(s) and clicking Delete.

Submitting drafts of your portfolio for review by LU instructors

Open your portfolio in LiveText.
Click the Send for Review button near the top of your document.
Enter the first few characters of the name of the Lawrence faculty member and wait for the full account information to appear.
Select the user's name and click the Submit for Review button.
Email your instructor to let him/her know the portfolio can be reviewed. Also indicate if there are specific areas where you have questions or concerns.
When the instructor has added comments and submitted the portfolio back to you, open the document by clicking Reviews along the top of the window. The document will appear in the Inbox tab.

"Turning in" your final portfolio for assessment and archival

Once you have made all necessary revisions to your portfolio based on feedback from your instructors, carefully follow these final steps:

Make certain that you open the correct version of your document!
Click the Submit for Review link near the top of the window.
Enter the first part of your instructor's name until the full name appears.
Click on your instructor's name.
Enter "luadmin" (that's a lower case L) and wait for "Lawrence University <luadmin>" to appear.
Click on the "luadmin" account.
Click the Submit for Review button.
Send an email to Carol Marx, the Education Department administrative assistant, letting her know that you have turned in your portfolio.

Making an alternate version of your portfolio to share with a potential employer

Open your portfolio in LiveText.
Click the Copy button near the top of your document.
Give the new portfolio a name.
The new copy of the portfolio automatically opens.
Edit the document as needed to add or remove sections or pages.
Follow the steps below to create a visitor's pass and share the portfolio.

Sharing your portfolio with non-LiveText accounts (friends, potential employers, etc.)

Click the Tools button near the top of the window.
Click the Visitor Passes tab.
Click the New button and give the visitor type a Title (eg, "Mom and Dad").
Note the 8-character Visitors Pass that LiveText generates.
Click the Documents button near the top of the window.
Open the portfolio you want to share.
Click Share near the top of the window.
Click Advanced Sharing Options.
Click the Visitors tab.
Select the desired visitor from the Choose Visitor popup menu and click Add.
Notify your visitor(s) to go to livetext.com and click on Use Visitor Pass at the top of the page and then enter the 8 character code.
To "unshare" your document at a later date, click Tools at the top, click the Visitor Passes tab, and make the desired changes.

Images

+ Scanning and Editing Images for use in LiveText

Guidelines for choosing a scanning resolution for a web image

If you want your image to appear on the web at about the same size as the original print, then choose a resolution of 72 ppi (pixels per inch).

If you want your image to be magnified, then choose a higher resolution. For example, setting a resolution of 144 ppi will effectively double the size of the image.

Generally, it is better to scan at a high resolution and then downsize the resulting image to an appropriate size. The added detail in the scanned image will allow it to be cropped, color corrected or otherwise manipulated in Photoshop before sizing the final picture appropriately for the web.

Where to scan

There is a scanner in the Humanities Computing Lab (Main Hall 108) and two scanners in the Lawrence Library: one by the audio CD's on the main floor, and one in the Information Technology Center Lab on the second floor. To scan your image, follow the directions beside the scanner. The reference librarian on duty can assist you with the scanner on the main floor.
Humanities Lab EPSON scanner interface

Library HP scanner interface

To Crop an Image

Open the image in Photoshop
Select the Crop tool (shown at right)
Draw a selection around the part of the image that you want to keep
To define the edge, click and drag the little squares on the selection box
Hit the enter or return key to crop the image

To Resize an Image

Open the image in Photoshop
Select Image >> Resize >> Image Size
Make sure that Resample Image is checked
Reduce the number of pixels in the height or width box

To Add Additional Padding (white border) Around an Image

First resize the image (see above)
Select Image >> Resize >> Canvas Size
Add pixels to the side of the image as shown in the image
For more detailed information, refer to this PDF: Photoshopping Images

To Save an Image for Use in LiveText

Select File >> Save As: use the JPEG format with a quality of 8 or less. Images should be less than <300 Kb in size
Click OK

Converting a PDF to a JPEG with Photoshop (PDF)

Video

+ Video Guidelines for LiveText Portfolios

Video that is intended primarily to be a soundboard for classroom discussion in your student teaching seminar need not be as high quality as that which you intend to use in your portfolio. Please follow the guidelines listed below to create your portfolio video clips.

General Guidelines

Use the highest quality camera available to you. Video shot from a cell phone could be fine for reviewing in the seminar but might look unprofessional in your portfolio.
Always use a tripod to keep the camera steady when videotaping.
If you are using a MiniDV camera, make certain it is set to record in SP mode.
When preparing to shoot video you intend to include in your portfolio, avoid close up shots of student faces. Putting this video on the web might violate the FERPA rights of the student. Try to set the camera up to either focus on you or in such a way so that the backs of student heads are shown.

Technical Guidelines

We have standardized on the QuickTime .mov format for LiveText video clips. Having a single standard creates a smoother viewing experience for your instructors and others who need to review your video.
If you have experience working with digital video and wish to edit and export the clips on your own, refer to the step-by-step instructions on the instructional technology website:
- Visit http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/it/
- Click on E-portfolios on the left.
  - iMovie tutorials are available to assist you with the editing process.
  - Exporting Video for Use in LiveText walks you through exporting an edited clip on a Mac.
  - Uploading and Embedding Video in LiveText walks you through getting the clip onto a LiveText page.

Support

If you would like assistance working on your video project, set up an appointment with the instructional technology staff by sending an email to inst-tech@lawrence.edu. Include the following information in your email:
- A range of days/times when you are available to meet.
- What format your video is in (MiniDV tape, FLIP camera, etc.).
Before coming to your appointment, you should have reviewed your video and made selections for your clips. Make an indication of the timings for each clip or if you are recording to tape, cue your tapes up.

+ Exporting Video for Use in LiveText

It is very important that you export your video in a format that will be viewable by your instructors. We have standardized on the QuickTime format for portfolio-related video. All Lawrence University computers have the required plug-ins to view QuickTime video. If you choose to use a different format for your videos, you run the risk of your instructor not being able to play the video. If at all possible, seek assistance from the Main Hall 108 student workers Sunday-Thursday, 7pm-10pm to have your video converted into the proper format.

If you will be using iMovie to edit your video, follow the "From iMovie..." instructions to export your video.

If you choose to edit your video in a program other than iMovie, export it at the highest quality setting, bring the file to Main Hall 108, and using a Mac, follow the "From QuickTime Player..." export instructions below.

Note that the export steps are slightly different depending on the application version you have. To check your version of iMovie, select "About iMovie" from the "iMovie" menu while the application is open.

Email inst-tech@lawrence.edu with any questions.

From QuickTime Player 10.1 (included with Mac OS 10.7)

select File >> Export
select "480p" from the Format menu
name and save the file

From QuickTime Player 10.0 (included with Mac OS 10.6)

select File >> Save As
select "HD 480p" from the Format menu
name and save the file

From QuickTime Player 7 (QuickTime Pro license required)

select File >> Export
continue to the Export Settings section below

From iMovie '08, ‘09, '10, or '11

select Share >> Export using QuickTime
skip to the Export Settings section below

From iMovie HD (version 6)

select File >> Export
click the QuickTime icon at the top
select "Expert Settings" from the drop down menu next to "Compress movie for"
click "Share"
skip to the Export Settings section below

Export Settings

select "Movie to QuickTime Movie" next to "Export"
name the file (use only letters and numbers and use an underscore or dash instead of spaces)
click the "Options button"
click "Settings" under Video
select H.264 for the Compression Type, fill out the settings as shown below, and click OK
click "Size" under Video
- for Standard Definition video, use Dimensions of 320 x 240 as shown in the image below.
- For High Definition video, set dimensions to Custom and use dimensions of 400 x 225.
click "Settings" under Sound, fill out the settings as shown below, and click OK
check "Prepare for Internet Streaming" at the bottom of the window
select "Fast Start - Compressed Header"
click OK and Save the file

+ Uploading and Embedding Video in Live Text

Login to LiveText (Mac users should use Firefox) and edit the page where you want to display your video (create a new Text & Image section if necessary).
Add your video file to the page as an attachment by clicking Edit next to Inserted Files under File Attachments at the bottom of the page.
Click Upload New File and click the Choose File button to upload your video.
Click the Save & Finish button at the upper right to save.
Right-click (or control-click on a Mac) on the video file's link (under Attachments) and select Copy Link Location.
Click Edit next to the section with the video attachment.
Select Edit >> Paste to paste the link to your video.
Open a new browser window or tab and go to this page: http://www.lawrence.edu/academics/it/e-portfolios/html_code
Select all of the text on the page (Edit >> Select All) and select Edit >> Copy.
Go back to your LiveText page and click the Source icon on the editing toolbar circled in red in the image below:
Select Edit >> Paste to paste the code in the window.
Locate the two instances of HTTP://YOUR-VIDEO-LINK-GOES-HERE and carefully replace with the link to your video that you pasted above.
Click the Save & Finish button at the upper right to save your changes.
Your video should now be embedded on the LiveText page.

iMovie Tutorials

Using iMovie '11 to Edit Video (PDF)
Support documents from Apple's web site