Did you read the last blog post? If not, click here before you go on. This post is going to focus on how to implement and create portfolios with Wakelet. I would be remised if I didn’t mention that Wakelet has created a whole course that you can complete too located here. The course is very helpful walking through each step I will lay out broadly below. The important thing to note, is that many of the things I am going to say can apply in any situation and tool for creating a portfolio.

Part 1: Wakelet

Have you ever used Wakelet? This is the most important question to start with. If you have never used Wakelet before, then the preceding steps might be difficult for you to follow. If this is true, then I would suggest that you become familiar with Wakelet. You can check out this blog here or an older blog post of mine here.

The most important thing to know about Wakelet other than it’s awesome is that Wakelet is all about organized chaos…I mean curation. The tool is built to help you organize all sorts of information like, YouTube videos, lesson plans, Flips, pdf’s, your own text explaining why you added something. Once you start adding things the other thing you can do is organize it how you would like to. Once you have created a collection, you can easily embed it into your LMS or website.

Basic Instructions for Wakelet

1. Create titles
2. Add a description (optional).
3. Afterwards you can Add text, links, images, PDF files, tweets, and more. Using the link option, you can add just about anything from internet to a wakelet.
4. Optional: Allow contributors (other people) to add to your collections by giving them a link or inviting them via email.
5. Share your Wakelet collections with a link, QR code, or by creating an embedded link to add it to a website or LMS.

Part 2: Planning

When it comes to creating a portfolio, you’ll want to do as much planning as possible. When it comes to curation tools many of us don’t have a strategy or are organized and that is a bummer. Before Wakelet became the tool that it is many of us who would curate internet information would either do one of three things; 1. Add a website to favorites (that starring thing in the URL) 2. Use Pinterest to save websites (mine is a more on the chaos than the organized side) 3. If you have been in education for a while, you might have used a Symbaloo (I did and then Wakelet came out and it was so much better imo)

With all of that said, I think the best way forward with your portfolio is is create a plan on the content you want to share, what categories work best for you. Wakelet even has a map tool to help you with that! Check it out here. This link is a great way to get you thinking about what to include in your portfolio. Once you have your map set up, you can reuse that map for every year of school for your students. The ability to copy in Wakelet is great and easy to do. Your map relies on yourself reflection and collaborative reflection with others. Once you have done that, then you can move on to the next step.

Part 3: Collect your Artifacts!

That’s right, once you have your map and your plan you can start to collect things. If you have made videos, include them. If you have word docs, save them as PDFs through MS Word and then upload them! Did you make something physical? Take pictures with a camera and then upload them! Do you see the pattern? Once you have your portfolio mapped out, all it takes is upload and collecting content for each category or part of your map. I would even say, if you are not sure, still add it because Part 4 is going to focus on narrowing down your curation. There are times when you might think something isn’t good enough, but your friends might disagree and if you don’t add it at this point, you’ll possibly miss something awesome.

As you are adding content, you can work on your organizing at the same time. The beauty of having a plan, you can put in basic titles and as you add content to that section you can update the title. The other thing that I think becomes clear is does your layout work. In Wakelet, you have the ability to change the layout but not lose the content. The other nice thing you can do with Wakelet that you couldn’t do when I created my digital portfolio, which is decorate your portfolio. Inside wakelet, you have the ability to add backgrounds, header or category images. You can of course, use your own images but you can also upload images from places like Pixabay, Canva, your own camera, or something you create with Microsoft Paint 3D (it’s a great program).

Part 4: Edit and Review Your Portfolio

It’s time, you have spent all of this effort curating, collecting and organizing your portfolio and now you need to use a critical eye to determine what to include, what to remove and how to make it look the best it can. In my opinion, this step is the most difficult to do because most likely you want to include everything. Critical eyes will help you recognize what content you have, if there is any content that is duplicative (do you have multiple posts that accomplish the same thing), and if that content meets your needs. By completing the map earlier, you will have a clear vision of what you are trying to communicate with your portfolio.

As you are editing and working with other’s to review and edit your portfolio, you might notice something missing. I know I haven’t mentioned it yet, during this editing process you should notice that you have no introduction of who you are and what people will get out of your portfolio. This would be a good time to add that introduction to the top of your portfolio. If you go through this Wakelet course, you’ll be asked to create a short introduction including:

• Hi! My name is…
• I’m in grade…
• I enjoy… [something fun that will help showcase your personality!]
• Explore my portfolio to find out more about… [include a short description of what your viewer can expect to discover when looking through your portfolio]

Part 5: Share, Share, Share

One you have completed parts 1-4 you are ready to share. When it comes to sharing a Wakelet you have the ability to post links or QR codes anywhere for it. I know a lot of blog posts I write for Springfield, if I have resources, I share them in a wakelet so that everyone has access to them. One interesting thing you can do is include a link to your portfolio in your email signature that prospective employers or even your friends would be able to access to look at. The nice thing is with a portfolio, no one can change anything on it. You have total control over it. If you are working with students. Wakelet has created a process that would allow students to take their Wakelet with them. All the students would have to do is change the email address away from the school to themselves. A way for students to take and share is the most important part of the portfolio program. This is preparing your students for the future and the world outside of the school building.

Time to Ride the Wave

There you have it! The Wakelet portfolio is one way that you can prepare your students for the real world, and they’ll have it forever and be able to share and update as they go for life! I know you are probably wondering what completed portfolios look like? I am going to include a few linked here and a long list here and a long list here! Thanks for checking this series of posts and I hope you do use Wakelet portfolios at your school. So, are you ready to ride the wave like 100’s of 1000s have?