ePortfolio Resources | Distance Education

go to content

Portfolio icon Anyone with an SOU computing account can create a Google website! The information provided here describes how to create and build a website using Google's "classic" sites. You can also use "new" Google sites or the campus Word Press platform to create a site.

Special Note About These Resources

Please note that Google changes our interface from time to time. Your options may look a bit different from what is shown in the videos posted here, but the guides linked in each of these sections are as current as we can keep them.

Thanks for your patience!

Creating Your ePortfolio

Welcome to your ePortfolio adventure! This video explains how to create your ePortfolio. You might also find this guide helpful.

NOTE #1: Select the Classic Sites format as you prepare to create your eportfolio. The instructions in this guide were designed for the classic format.

NOTE #2: If your instructor has designed a template for your use, be sure to select it from the template library — the SOU red and black template shown in this video is simply for illustration. If you do select the wrong template, delete the site and start over.

Edit a Page

This guide to editing your Google site covers editing text, inserting images, inserting links to videos, linking to websites, and attaching files to pages. See related videos in the following sections.

As you add content to your ePortfolio, be sure to remove any text that might have been provided in the template as a guide to developing your site.

Insert an Image

Images add tremendously to the visual appeal of your ePortfolio. These guides to using images might be helpful to you.

Insert a YouTube Video

Links to YouTube videos are easy to insert in your Google site.

Embed a File

Embedding a file is an elegant alternative to attaching a file to a web page. Rather than having to click to open the file, embedding it means that the contents will be shown right on the page itself. This technique also allows you to display a video that you've uploaded to your Google drive as well as the pdf file described in the video posted below. For more information on embedding video files, see this guide.

After you embed your file, be sure to remove any text that might have been provided in the template as a guide to developing your page.

Display Another Web Site

If you would like to showcase a different web site in your ePortfolio, these instructions will explain how....

Open a page in Edit view. (Add a new page, if necessary). Click on Insert, then select More gadgets....
Scroll down and select Include gadget (iframe).
Confirm that you want to add an iframe by clicking on Select.
In the Add a gadget to your page dialogue box, paste the URL to your other web site in the URL to content field. In the Display options area, change the width to 100 per cent. You may need to update the height settings, as well, but leave that set to 800 until you know more. Set the other display options as shown, then click on OK. Save your page to see how it looks. To make adjustments, open the page in Edit view, then click on the gadget to select it. Click on the settings icon to bring up the Add a gadget page again and adjust the settings.

Add a Page

You may need to add a page to your site. Follow these instructions to add a page.

Add Pages to Navigation

Customize Your Site

It's possible to customize the theme, colors, and fonts of your ePortfolio. We found this video that explains how to do so. You'll find that a lot of the process has to do with just fooling around with possibilities until you find combinations that you like.

Replace Cover Image

Just a quick note about replacing a cover image that may be embedded in your program template. For best results, we recommend maintaining a 2.5:1 ratio of any image you use to replace a cover image. We also recommend inserting the new image next to the existing image, then deleting the original image — for some themes, it's easy to lose track of where the image resides, so leaving it in place while you drop the new image in makes inserting a new image easier.

Remember, if you make a change and it doesn't turn out the way you expected, just Cancel instead of saving your changes, then start over. Be sure to proceed with caution any time you customize your site.

Delete a Site

Sometimes, there's just nothing like starting over! To delete a site, click on the More actions icon, then choose Manage Site. Scroll down and click on Delete this Site. Confirm the deletion and start over!