Blog No. 1
When I first heard about creating an ePortfolio, I felt both curious and overwhelmed. I’ve used tools like Google Sites before for classroom projects, but building a more permanent, personal website felt like a big step. I wanted a space that wasn’t just functional but beautiful, inspiring, and truly mine. With this goal in mind, I decided to explore Hostinger and connect it with WordPress. This new journey taught me more than just how to create a site it taught me how to face my tech fears with purpose and patience.
The first step I took was researching which platform to use. I chose Hostinger because I wanted full control over my site and the ability to grow it beyond the ADL program. Setting up my domain name was easier than expected, and I appreciated how Hostinger guided me through connecting to WordPress. Once WordPress was installed, I began customizing my theme, exploring widgets, and organizing the structure of my blog and reflection pages. It took me a couple of days to get used to the dashboard, but soon I learned how to publish a blog post, insert images, and create a navigation menu.
In today’s digital learning environment, ePortfolios serve as powerful tools for reflection, collaboration, and identity. They are not only collections of work but evolving narratives that show who we are as professionals. For educators, an ePortfolio becomes a living document one that reflects both our personal voice and pedagogical growth. I realized that this project was an opportunity to curate my journey intentionally and transparently.
If I could give someone just starting out a piece of advice, it would be this: start simple. Don’t get caught up in choosing the perfect template or colors. Begin with the structure your “About Me” page, one or two blogs, and maybe a resources page. Once those are in place, you can always go back and enhance the visuals. Another trick that helped me was watching short YouTube tutorials on customizing WordPress for education portfolios. I also kept a digital journal to document everything I was learning, which helped me when I got stuck and needed to retrace my steps.
To further guide my learning, I explored articles like Gardner Campbell’s (2009) “A Personal Cyberinfrastructure,” where he describes how building our own digital spaces allows us to think deeply and personally about how we present knowledge. This idea resonated with me, as I was not simply completing a task I was making decisions that shaped my professional identity. Harapnuik’s (2016) concept of the COVA model Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authenticity helped ground my process, reminding me that what I create should reflect my values and passions.
What still frustrates me? Honestly, I’m still learning how to make my site as visually appealing as I imagine it. There are moments when I can’t figure out how to fix a layout or why a plugin isn’t working. I also struggle with formatting mobile views and making sure the site is user-friendly on different devices. However, despite these challenges, I feel incredibly proud of having a platform that is mine a place where I can tell my story as an educator, share resources, and reflect on my growth. Seeing my first published post gave me a sense of accomplishment I didn’t expect.
What brings me the most joy is knowing that this site is more than a school assignment. It’s becoming a mirror of who I am as a bilingual kindergarten teacher, a learner, and someone passionate about education and innovation. I’m using this site not just for the course, but as a growing portfolio to share with families, colleagues, and potential future employers. And maybe, just maybe, another teacher starting her journey will find courage in reading mine.
Helpful Resources I Used:
– [Gardner Campbell – A Personal Cyberinfrastructure] (https://er.educause.edu/articles/2009/9/a-personal-cyberinfrastructure)
– [COVA Model – Harapnuik](http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7481)
– [WordPress for Beginners Tutorial] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AZ8GqW5iak)
References:
Campbell, G. (2009). A personal cyberinfrastructure. EDUCAUSE Review, 44(5), 58–59. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2009/9/a-personal-cyberinfrastructure
Harapnuik, D. (2016). Creating significant learning environments. http://www.harapnuik.org