I have really enjoyed creating and updating this website. In just a few short weeks I have done some things that I have never attempted before - things like building a website, creating blog posts, and posting my first podcast. All of this is geared towards introducing us to new technologies and experimenting with different things we might find useful in our everyday lives as teachers and coaches. Hopefully we can become better teachers because of it. It never hurts to add 'tools' to your 'toolbox', right? So how can someone's personal web presence enhance their professional portfolio? I think it is a great way to showcase your online confidence, your personal voice, and your versatility.
We begin to grow when we take ourselves out of our comfort zone and I believe we strengthen our online confidence when we have to create web pages and logins, and write and comment on blogs, and explore different sites like LinkedIn that are not part of our normal web traffic pattern. Not only does this allow us to explore some of the latest technologies, but we begin to build more confidence as we navigate through the processes involved.
When someone is interested in you professionally they may do an online search for your name. What will come up? Hopefully you have been responsible in maintaining your web presence! If so, I believe things like a personal web site (like we created here) as well as a Twitter account and a Facebook fan page can really show your true voice and give someone an idea of who you are (more so than just looking at a LinkedIn profile). While this isn't always a good thing for some, I believe in setting a good example in that we need to be the same person all the time - in the classroom, on the field and at home. So I know that my tweets and Facebook updates are all fine if a parent , player or student were to see them. I have nothing to hide nor be embarrassed about.
With so many uses, the web is THE place to enhance your portfolio. Creating a website, maintaining a blog, posting professional podcasts and understanding different apps and how to access and use them will be an ideal canvas in which to display your online versatility. Employers are looking for people who are always trying to grow and improve. Your personal web presence is the place for that to happen!
Make it a Great Day!
DG
We begin to grow when we take ourselves out of our comfort zone and I believe we strengthen our online confidence when we have to create web pages and logins, and write and comment on blogs, and explore different sites like LinkedIn that are not part of our normal web traffic pattern. Not only does this allow us to explore some of the latest technologies, but we begin to build more confidence as we navigate through the processes involved.
When someone is interested in you professionally they may do an online search for your name. What will come up? Hopefully you have been responsible in maintaining your web presence! If so, I believe things like a personal web site (like we created here) as well as a Twitter account and a Facebook fan page can really show your true voice and give someone an idea of who you are (more so than just looking at a LinkedIn profile). While this isn't always a good thing for some, I believe in setting a good example in that we need to be the same person all the time - in the classroom, on the field and at home. So I know that my tweets and Facebook updates are all fine if a parent , player or student were to see them. I have nothing to hide nor be embarrassed about.
With so many uses, the web is THE place to enhance your portfolio. Creating a website, maintaining a blog, posting professional podcasts and understanding different apps and how to access and use them will be an ideal canvas in which to display your online versatility. Employers are looking for people who are always trying to grow and improve. Your personal web presence is the place for that to happen!
Make it a Great Day!
DG