Please click here to view the visual tutorial that describes how to assemble your files into an interactive electronic portfolio or "eFolio".

What's Involved
You will combine about 10 or so specified files that you created during the semester into an interactive electronic portfolio or "eFolio". Assemble your specified files by copying them into a single "working folder". Then, create an image file based on a "screen capture" of each file. Finally, link the image file to that file. The visual tutorial shows you how to do this. When viewed from your ULM website, your eFolio allows anyone to access your files, interactively.

Q. Which "10 or so files" should I include?
A. Your instructor will specify which files to include in your course "eFolio".

Q. This sounds hard and complicated. Is it really hard and complicated?
A. If you follow the steps, you will have no problems.  Use the visual tutorial. It shows you each step of the way.

Q. Where do I get the files to create my eFolio? Is there a template I can edit?
A. You will find links to all files you need to create your eFolio when you view the visual tutorial. All files are "open source" or free resources  that you may freely use, share, and distribute. Yes, there is a template that you can edit.

Q. Are there examples of student-produced eFolios?
A. Here are examples of student-produced eFolios:

  http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~bracydk/524/index.html   (Notice that the links are done with images only.)
  http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~cooperjl/JamieCooperBryan/
  http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~pooleer/erickapoole/index.html
  This is an exemplar, created for a graduate internship course called EDIT 6083:  http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~whitlotb/6083/index.html

Q. Do I really upload my eFolio to my ULM website? I didn't even know I had a website!
A. Yes, you will. And, yes you do have a fully functional website.

---

1. Creating Your eFolio
You will use the open source application called "eXe" to create an eFolio that you can edit, update, and upload to your ULM website account. This application was developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Education as a free educational resource; it has won many awards for innovation in Asia but this software is largely unknown in the USA. This application can run on Windows, Mac, or Linux computers. This application is used to generate a website folder for your website and a zip file that you submit on Taskstream:

A. The generated "zip file" contains, in a compressed format, the files that you would "upload" to your website. You will submit this single file on Taskstream as a course requirement.
B. The generated "website folder" is for your website. You will upload this folder to your ULM website. When you are finished, your eFolio will be accessible on the Internet, just like the active eFolio examples shown above.     

2. What You Will Do

• To prepare, copy about 10 or so of your specified course files into a folder; these files should be in the Office 2003 file format.  This will make linking easier.  
• Please ensure that your files are named simply with letters or numbers and the hyphen ( - ) character.
• Use lowercase letters.  
• Replace spaces with hyphens. 
• Don't include punctuation in your filenames. 
• Why? Naming your files in this way can eliminate technical problems, on some networks, when you put your files online.
• Next, in this folder, save "screen captures" of your displayed files as image files like ".jpg" or ".png" files. (Below, there is a brief tutorial for creating image files. If you use a Mac or Linux, you can save a screen capture using any image editor application you like.)
• Edit the template "source file" called efolio1.elp with the eXe application to create a "website folder" (this is your "eFolio").
• After you generate a "website folder", you will be able to "upload" the folder to your ULM website. 
  

3. Download Working Files

• On the eXe website http://exelearning.org/wiki  you will find installation files for installing eXe on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. Choose the type of installation file you need to download and install it on your computer.
• Edit the source file eFolio template called  efolio1.elp  
• This is the link:  http://ulm.edu/~beutner/exe/efolio1/efolio1.elp
• If you are interested in additional background information about "eXe", click on this link: http://wikieducator.org/Online_manual
  

There is another way to use the eXe application without installation on your computer. If you use Windows, here is an easy way to get started with "portable" applications that you can store and run from your USB flash drive. You will need to "download" and "unzip" this zip file: http://ulm.edu/~beutner/exe/efolio1/efolio1.zip

This zip file contains:

• the "portable" version of the eXe application 
• the "portable" version of the winSCP file transfer application for uploading files to a website account
• the "source file template" called  efolio1.elp  (This is the file that you edit.)

 "Unzip" this file to a USB flash drive. You will be able to create online resources with this "portable package", without installation, on most Windows-based PC computers. (In rare cases, the portable applications will not work. In that case, you will need to go to the website and download and install the complete eXe application on your computer.)

Q. How do I "unzip" a "zip file"?
A. If you don't know how to "unzip" or "zip" a zip file, view this visual tutorial. This link allows you to download the free "7-Zip" application:  http://downloads.sourceforge.net/sevenzip/

Q. I don't get it. What's a "portable" application?
A. A "portable" application can run directly from your USB flash drive, without installation. So, you can go from computer to computer and run the application, without installing on the hard drive; this is a real advantage.

4. Editing Your eFolio

• Convert any Office 2007 or Office 2010 files into the common Office 2003 file format. Why? It makes it possible for everyone to use your files... easily, without conversion. 
• Use clear and descriptive filenames, using only letters, numbers, and the hyphen character as a substitute for spaces.
• Your instructor will provide you with a list of specified files; these are the files that you will include in your electronic portfolio.
• On each page of your eFolio, include a captured image of your file that links directly to your file. Each page describes one of your files.  
• Start the eXe application. Then, click on File => Open to open the file called efolio1.elp    Directions are provided in the source file.

---

Brief Tutorial: Several Ways To "Capture An Image" And Then Save It As An Image File

• "Capture an image" of your file using the "Print Screen" key. 
• Open Paint and paste.
• Select what you like and copy your selection.
• Click on File => New in the menu.  Then, paste.
• In older versions of Paint: You will find at the bottom of the right hand corner of the image, a single "pixel" that you can move to adjust the size of the image. Take your time; it's a bit hard to do at first. Then, drag to adjust the borders.
• Recommended: Adjust the size of the image so that it is about 760 pixels wide by 570 pixels high.
• Click on File => Save As    A screen will appear. Find the folder where you want to save. Provide a file name. Importantly, click on the drop down menu for "Save as Type" and choose either "jpg" or "png" as the image file type. 
• In the newer version of Paint: Select and crop the area of the image you want to keep. Then, save as an image file.

In Office 2010, you can use the "Snipping Tool" to capture anything you see on the screen. Then, crop the image to the size you like. Then, save as an image file.

Or, you can use SnagIt, a recommended commercial application, to easily capture the portion of the screen you like. Then, save it as an image file.

---

Checklist: Uploading To Your ULM Website & Submitting On Taskstream

1. View the visual tutorial.
2. Open and use the eXe application to edit the template "source file" called efolio1.elp 
3. When you open the efolio1.elp template file, you will find directions.  
4. Edit your eFolio by describing one file on each page with a captured image of that file. 
5. So, each page you edit in eXe should include 
1. a screen capture image file related to that particular file  (recommended size: 760 x 570)
2. a brief text description of the file as a caption directly under the captured image
3. the image has an active link to that file
6. Save your work.
7. Export as a "Website Folder". Here's how. Upload this folder to your ULM website.

Q. How do I put my eFolio "website folder" on my ULM student website?
A. To put your eFolio online, you need to use an "FTP" application to "upload" the "website folder" to your website account. A free recommended application for Windows users is called "winSCP". (Mac and Linux users can use a free FTP application of their choice.)
You can download the "winSCP" FTP application from this website:  http://winscp.net/eng/download.php

Q. What do I have to do in eXe to generate the website files?
A. Here's how to export your website folder.

Q. How do I upload the website files to my ULM student website?
A. Use winSCP to upload your eFolio files to your ULM student website. 

Q. Would you please repeat how I upload files to my ULM student website?
A.  Sure. Use eXe to generate a website folder; this folder contains dozens of files. The generated website folder is your eFolio. When you upload the folder to your website, it will be on the Internet. Just follow these steps:

1. Use the free winSCP "FTP application" to upload your website folder (the website folder generated by eXe) to your ULM student website. Tip: Name the folder as the course number of the course, like "5024".
2. Be sure to upload your eFolio folder inside of the public_html folder. Repeat: Your folder must be inside of the public_html folder.
3. These are the settings for winSCP so that you can copy the folder (eFolio) from your computer to your website:   http://ulm.edu/~beutner/tut/efolio/using_winscp.html
4. Copy the folder to your website. Here's how.

Example: Accessing Your Online eFolio Folder

Folder Name	5024
eFolio Name	index.html
Your Login	This is your ULM username or login for your myULM account.
The "URL": Your eFolio (Both work.)	http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~yourlogin/5024/index.html http://warhawks.ulm.edu/~yourlogin/5024/
The "URL", or Internet address, includes your "username" or login, and the folder generated by eXe as a website folder. Remember: Always use your website account responsibly, according to ULM policies.