access MAY-JUN 2012 19

What Is a Portfolio?

When you reach a point in your career where you are look-

ing for opportunities for advancement or new employment,

it is advantageous to showcase your strengths and accom-

plishments. Dental hygienists often have a wide variety of

achievements from all realms of professional development

and may provide an advantage over other candidates when

seeking career opportunities.

A professional portfolio demonstrates evidence of your

skills, achievements and professional experience.1 Portfolios

include a variety of information to summarize your contribu-

tions to dental hygiene practice, professional development

Examples of the categories for your portfolio can be found in

Figure 1. This list is not exhaustive, but is intended to stimu-

late your thoughts.

There are two methods for creating a professional port-

folio, traditional and electronic. The traditional version is a

paper copy, while the emerging format is an electronic, or

e-portfolio. Electronic portfolios can be either web-based or

computer-based. Web-based portfolios are created through

websites that provide the user with a web domain for an an-

nual fee. Computer-based portfolios are a lower-cost option,

as the only purchases required include computer software and

-

Why Choose an E-portfolio?

-

pants who created an electronic portfolio “reported a better

understanding of their skills and attributes and increased

-

ployers.”2 Individuals who compile a professional portfolio will

have the ability to quickly and accurately demonstrate lifelong

learning and continued professional competence.3 With com-

petition in the workforce, a professional portfolio provides a

visual representation that sets you apart from other candi-

dates by allowing you to express your individual strengths

the interview. Additionally, portfolios are used for develop-

mental purposes, such as promotion and advancement, in the 4 Mid- to late-career profession-

als can display their strong points by highlighting skills and

experience not evident on a resume.4

E-portfolios preserve documentation from natural disasters

and viruses if the documents are regularly backed up.3 Each

piece of information found in a portfolio is centrally located

on the computer. This allows easy retrieval of information and

the ability to update content regularly. E-portfolios are living

documents and should evolve throughout your professional

this reduces the need for a cumbersome paper copy in a bind-

that it returns safely back to you. Electronic versions also

eliminate unnecessary printing and use of paper.

Many current dental hygiene graduates develop electronic

portfolios during their educational experience. Mid- to late-

career professionals need to demonstrate adaptability to tech-

remain viable in the workforce.

How To Do It

The length of a portfolio depends on the amount of sup-

porting documentation provided. This will vary with your

tailored to your desired position. In order to accomplish this,

you will need a larger pool of documentation to choose from.

Having a wide variety of showcased skills will allow you to

easily compile a portfolio. Examples of practice contributions

may include, but are not limited to, methods of increasing

techniques, thank-you letters from patients, positive em-

ployer annual reviews, and lists of products or technologies

with which you have experience in clinical practice. Evidence

of professional development incorporates continuing educa-

tion opportunities, membership in professional associations as

-

of recommendation and references. Presentations and pub-

lications are an excellent way to showcase research, educa-

tional skills and community involvement. Limiting the portfolio

to the 10 best

items will

focus the

potential

employer on

key areas of

competency

and permit

him or her

to scan the

Shape Your Future with an E-PortfolioBy Kimberly M. Parsons, RDH, MEd, CDA and Emily R. Holt, RDH, MHA, CDA

Table of Contents

new products, etc.

Figure 1. Components of a professional portfolio

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Disc label

Disc case

Disc cover insert

Figure 2. Required materials

20 MAY-JUN 2012 access

contents of the portfolio in a short amount of time. This brief review

should engage and motivate the reviewer to explore your portfolio

of the examples included in the portfolio and how they demonstrate

your intellectual, professional and clinical growth.

Before you create your portfolio, all supporting paper documenta-

tion should be converted into an electronic format. For example, scan

electronic documents and presentations before converting them into

of how to perform any functions in a particular software program,

always use its help function.

This may be to position you for job advancement, a pay raise or a

verify who will be reviewing your portfolio. When applying for a clini-

cal dental hygiene position, this might include several team members,

and the employing dentist.

Now you are ready to plan your strategy for se-

lecting the items you will use in your portfolio, as the

same portfolio cannot be used in all situations. This

to match your assets to their needs. Select the 10

and individuality.

After choosing the appropriate samples of evi-

on your computer. You can label the folder according

it will be copied over to the rewritable disc that will

be distributed to the reviewer. This will become the

-

portfolio.

create a title slide. This will include your name, credentials, phone

number, email address and, optionally, a recent professional photo-

included in your portfolio will be listed in the table of contents in the

of headings and subheadings you may include.

Create a new slide in the presentation to showcase each heading

and subheading from your table of contents. A short description of

the subheading should be placed on the slide, accompanied by a vi-

the supporting documentation will appear. After creating all of your

Show, you will enable the viewer to automatically open and view the

found in the presentation. Choose a name for the show that indicates

to the viewer that this is the main format for viewing your portfolio.

The saved version of the show should not go into the subfolder you

documents to a rewritable disc. Create an additional folder on your

-

folder you previously created with supporting documentation. The

-

-

tioned to a rewritable disc.

You may wish to create a disc cover insert as well as a disc label

appear on the insert include directions on how to use the electronic

-

alism and leave a positive lasting impression.

effortless.

■

The word “portfolio” has different meanings in different

contexts. The collection of materials discussed in this article is

and experiences to potential employers.

Among the other meanings, in 2010, California passed

based examination for initial licensure, by which they would

portfolio of

completed clinical experiences and competency exams in seven

subject areas for submission to the dental board. The portfolio

examination is accepted only in California.

-

ists in any state; however, Minnesota does require licensees to

establish a professional portfolio to record, monitor, and retain

documentation of professional development activities.

With competition in the workforce, a professional

portfolio provides a visual representation that sets

you apart from other candidates by allowing you to

express your individual strengths and unique style. {

Figure 3. Screen capture of disc contents

access MAY-JUN 2012 21

References

1. Dennison RD. What goes into your professional portfolio & what you’ll get

out of it. Am Nurs Today 2007; 2(1): Available at www.americannursetoday.

2. Stevens H. The impact of e-portfolio development on the employability of

70-6.

Kimberly M. Parsons, RDH, MEd, CDA, is an

assistant professor of dental assisting and

dental hygiene at the University of Southern

Indiana as well as the interim dental assist-

ing program director. Her scholarly activities

include research in the area of electronic text-

books and other educational technologies.

Emily R. Holt, RDH, MHA, CDA, is an assistant

professor of dental hygiene and dental assisting

at the University of Southern Indiana in Evans-

ville, Indiana. She also practices dental hygiene

Indiana. She is a consultant member of the

North East Regional Board of Dentistry. ■

■ Online Resources

Resume Writing

How-write-a-resume.org

Tutorial for Creating an E-Portfolio

electronicportfolios.com/portfolios/howto/index.html

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