Portfolios

This help page is for the Portfolio tool in Blackboard only.

Brightspace, UB's new Learning Management System, does not have an integrated portfolio tool. Check with your instructor to see which third-party tool is being used for you course.

Portfolios provide a way for students to efficiently collect and organize artifacts representative of work completed over time.

On this page:

There is an issue with Chrome on Windows where the content editor does not appear on a page with multiple sections. Without the content editor, students are not able to format text, add images and videos, etc.

If students add text to a section without the content editor and click the Save button, only the Artifacts area will show. However, the text content is still there. The text will be visible after exiting the portfolio and reentering edit mode.

We recommend using Firefox or Edge on Windows. This issue does not affect browsers on macOS.

If you take too long when typing content into any UB Learns content editor and the browser times out or the internet connection is lost, you will lose the content.

To avoid unexpected loss of content, you should compose content off-line in a word processor (such as Microsoft Word) and then copy and paste the content into your portfolio.

Accessing the Portfolios Tool

The Portfolios tool can be accessed in two way:

  • Tools page in the Ultra Base Navigation: Tools > Portfolios.
  • Tools area of a course: Tools > Portfolios Homepage. Note that this will take you out of the course and into the Tools page in the Ultra Base Navigation.

Creating a Portfolio

  1. Click My Portfolios.
  2. Click Create Portfolio.
  3. Add a title in the Title field.
  4. If your instructor has asked you to use a specific template, click Select Portfolio Template, click the radio button to the left of the template and then click Submit. Clicking the template name will open a preview of the template.
  5. Add a description in the Description field, if necessary.
  6. Click Submit.

Editing a Portfolio

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.

Parts of a Portfolio

Page

  • Links to pages appear in the navigation menu.
  • Create a page for significant skills or milestones achieved.
  • Must have at least one page.

Section

  • Links to sections appear in the navigation menu.
  • Can be used to divide a page into different content areas.
  • Highlight individual accomplishments, projects or achievements.
  • Every page must have at least one section.

Description (in Sections)

  • Add text, images or embedded media, such as YouTube videos.
  • Include a description of an experience or accomplishment, and reflection on what was learned.

Artifact

  • Sample work to show competency or skill.
  • Artifacts can be downloaded.

Creating a Page

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Click the plus icon at the top of the portfolio's navigation menu (left side of the page).
  3. Replace the default page name with a new name.
  4. Click Save.

Adding a Section

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you would like to add a section.
  3. Click the plus icon in the content area (not the portfolio navigation area on the left) where you would like to add a section.
  4. Replace the default section name with a new name.
  5. Add content.
  6. Click Save.

Adding Content to a Section

The content editor is available when you are editing a section. This toolbar is used to format text, insert equations and tables, attach files and embed images and YouTube videos.

Step-by-step directions for adding images and video are farther down on this page.

Learn more about the content editor

Moving a Page or Section

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Click the double triangle icon to the left of the page or section in the portfolio's navigation menu.
  3. Choose a new location from the dropdown menu.

Deleting a Page or Section

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Click the trash can icon to the right of the page or section in the portfolio's navigation menu.
  3. Click OK to confirm.

Adding a File

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want to add the image.
  3. Click anywhere in a section to begin editing.
  4. To see all the editing options, click the ellipsis icon (three dots) on the right of the content editor.
  5. Click the plus icon.
  6. Click Insert Local Files.
  7. Locate the file on your computer.
  8. Click Open.
  9. Click Save.

Adding an Image

You cannot paste an image directly into your portfolio. You must use the steps below.

If you add an image using the directions below but see a link instead of an image, your file may be in a format that is not supported by UB Learns (HEIF, for example).

JPG, PNG and GIF are all common formats that are supported by UB Learns.

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want to add the image.
  3. Click anywhere in a section to begin editing.
  4. To see all the editing options, click the ellipsis icon (three dots) on the right of the content editor.
  5. Click the plus icon.
  6. Click Insert Local Files.
  7. Locate the file on your computer.
  8. Click Open.
  9. Right-click on the image and choose Image… from the pop-out menu.
  10. Add a description of the image to the Alternative description field (for accessibility purposes).
  11. Resize the image, if necessary. You can also resize the image by clicking on it and dragging the corner handles.
  12. Click Save.

Adding a Video

Uploading your video to YouTube and then using the instructions below is the best way to embed videos on a page.

Do not include video files as artifacts or upload them (Insert Local Files) to your portfolio.

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want to add the image.
  3. Click anywhere in a section to begin editing.
  4. To see all the editing options, click the ellipsis icon (three dots) on the right of the content editor.
  5. Click the plus icon.
  6. Click YouTube Video.
  7. Enter search information in the Search field and click Go.
  8. Click Select for the video you want to add to your portfolio.
  9. Review the Mashup Options.
  10. Click Submit.
  11. Right-click on the preview image and choose Image… from the pop-out menu.
  12. Add a description of the preview image to the Alternative description field (for accessibility purposes).
  13. Click Save.

Adding an Artifact From a Course

Do not add a file, an image or a video as an artifact unless your instructor tells you to use that method.

Instead, use the instructions in the following sections of this webpage:

Artifacts from a course must be graded before they can be added to a portfolio.

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want to add the artifact.
  3. Click Add Artifact in the section you want to add the artifact. A new window opens.
  4. Click Add from Course.
  5. Click on a course.
  6. Click the radio button to the left of the artifact you want to add. Clicking on the title will open a preview of the artifact.
  7. Click Submit.

Adding an Artifact From a File

Do not add a file, an image or a video as an artifact unless your instructor tells you to use that method.

Instead, use the instructions in the following sections of this webpage:

  1. Click the Edit link for the portfolio you would like to edit.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want to add the artifact.
  3. Click Add Artifact in the section you want to add the artifact. A new window opens.
  4. Click Add Personal Artifact.
  5. Add a title in the Title field.
  6. Add a description in the Description field, if necessary.
  7. Add additional information about the artifact in the Content field, if necessary.
  8. Click Browse My Computer.
  9. Locate the file on your computer.
  10. Click Open.
  11. Click Submit.

Sharing a Portfolio Snapshot

When you share your portfolio, you are sharing a snapshot of it at that point in time. If you make edits to the portfolio, you will need to share it again.

An instructor can create assignments that require portfolios to be submitted. For those instances, you will see two options when submitting the assignment: Attach Portfolio and Create Portfolio.

  1. Click the More link for the portfolio you want to share.
  2. Choose Share from the drop-down menu.
  3. Move your cursor over Share a Snapshot with.
  4. Choose one to the following options:
    • Users
      Use this option when sharing your portfolio with your instructor. Enter the instructor's UBITName in the Username field. Portfolios shared this way are found in Shared with Me.
    • External Users
       Use this option when sharing your portfolio with someone who is not associated with UB.
    • Courses
      Portfolios shared this way are found in your Tools section of your course (Tools > Course Portfolios).
  5. Complete the appropriate fields and options.
  6. Click Submit.

Downloading a Portfolio

  1. Click the More link for the portfolio you want to download.
  2. Choose Download from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Click to download Portfolio. A ZIP file will download containing all the files for your portfolio.
  4. Double-click the ZIP file to expand it.
  5. Open the folder created by the ZIP file.
  6. Double-click index.html to view your portfolio.
Additional information about Portfolios is available on the Blackboard website

Need additional help?

Use our contact form to submit a help ticket (you may be asked for your UBITName and password). After the form is submitted, a member of the UB Learns support team will follow up with you within one business day.

Contact form