art by Heather Lloyd
Introduction
Welcome to my ePortfolio!
This document is divided into four sections:
the Introduction, the Areas of Competency, the Conclusion, and the Affirmation.
In the Areas of Competency section you will find a collection of projects and reflections, organized under 14 core competencies, each denoted by a letter and short description of the evidentiary qualities covered. This collection is made up of careful choices, each serving to highlight an area of my experience, growth, and achievement in the information sciences, and specifically in the field of archives. Many threads of thought interweave and align, revealing my personal philosophy and approach to topics such as search and retrieval, preservation, arrangement and description, access to information and, most importantly, user experience and engagement. Each individual competency is structured with an introduction, relating my understanding of topic, followed by three or more linked evidentiary items which are discussed within the essay body, and finally, a conclusion conveying my future plans to expand on my skills.
In the Conclusion section of the ePortfolio I share the most important insights gained in pursuit of my degree, my professional and personal strengths, as well as my future plans and professional aspirations.
The affirmation section is an ethical construct which affirms the integrity of my work and my commitment to standards of privacy.
The process for building this ePortfolio was methodical, structured and deeply reflective. I created two detailed spreadsheets to summarize, organize and track my evidence as well as an analog document to track deadlines and manage my time using smaller, incremental tasks grouped around larger goals. I also created a template for composing the individual competency essays, to maintain consistent format and continuity of content. While each competency can stand alone, a throughline connects these varied topics and concepts into a singular point of view, reflecting the process of the ePortfolio’s creation by supporting fluid ideas within defined structures. While created to showcase my work in a thoughtful way, the ePortfolio has also been a valuable experience for self-examination, affording me a deeper understanding of my professional evolution and personal growth.