Visiting and reading an ePortfolio that is not up-to-date is like reading a news article from last months newspaper it may be very interesting but the situation may have changed since and therefore the information in the article may no longer be relevant.

The real value of your ePortfolio is that it represents who you are, what you are doing and what you can do. As you are learning new things day after day, meeting new people, experiencing new things, it is important that your ePortfolio reflects this constant development.

Furthermore you need to keep a check on who is reading and commenting on your ePortfolio and therefore you need to check and read regularly input from your tutor and friends in the form of comments, reflections and or evaluations depending on what you allow them to do in your ePortfolio. It is important to respond to comments and reflections made by others in your ePortfolio just as you would not leave an email or telephone message unanswered.

So here are some to help you keep your ePortfolio updated:

1. Schedule time on a regular basis (at least once a week if you can) to spend on developing and updating your ePortfolio.

2. Try and include a weblog in your ePortfolio so that you can make regular postings in the form of an on-line diary.

3. Invite your tutor, class mates and friends to make view your ePortfolio and to make comments and reflections on your work this will encourage you to go back to your ePortfolio regularly to read their posts.

4. If you already have weblogs try and include an RSS feed in your ePortfolio so that you postings are visible from your ePortfolio

5.  Every time you create a new document, image or presentation that reflects a new achievement, outcome or result of your learning and experiences, put a copy straight away in your ePortfolio or in a dedicated folder on your computer (call it your ePortfolio folder) where you can store all those files that you put in your ePortfolio.

6. Lacking inspiration or materials for your ePortfolio well why not post an article, picture, story, weblink that you find interesting it is important to show your sources of references in an ePortfolio as that reflects on the person you are. You may have heard the sayings tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are or tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are which show how your connections and sources of information reveal who you are, your beliefs and values.

Do you have a mobile phone?

Well the good news is that you may soon (if not already where you live) be able to send photos, texts and audio from your phone directly to your weblog which may be part of your ePortfolio.

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