(written on 11/13/2022)

This ePortfolio is a selection of my Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) coursework at San Jose State University (SJSU). I took five semesters and two summer sessions, completing two courses for each, which equals 14 classes for the Special Librarianship track. The Emerging Technologies and Digital Services Pathways track had also appealed to me, but I had felt I would enjoy a holistic study of a non-academic information environment instead.

And I did enjoy it, every class.

I began my degree in August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 quarantine. Thankfully, I was already settled in my then for-now job selling pastries and bread at a bakery that, rather than shut down like many neighboring businesses, thrived and expanded. Some coursework had felt tedious at the beginning, but eventually became interesting and even exhilarating. Regardless, I had approached each course with the mindset that I had no idea what was going on, but was capable so will learn what was expected of me and more.

Also thankfully, I had.

How this ePortfolio was originally structured

I had decided to use the Canvas ePortfolio function, because if I should have had trouble with the formatting I would receive support from SJSU IT. The presentation structure provided was intuitive. The main sections’ navigation was on the top left, with the individual page links lining the right.

The main sections are this Introduction, the Areas of Competency, where links to each letter’s essay would be lined to the right, and the Conclusion/Affirmation. The essays have Introductions that explain what I understand of the competency, Evidence from coursework or past projects to support my explanation, and a Conclusion that discusses how I plan to apply this knowledge to my future professional career.

How I produced this ePortfolio

Before I began writing, I reviewed every piece of coursework I had turned in. After separating out the ones that were inappropriate as evidence for proving I was smart, I organized the rest by their relevant competencies. Then I began with the Competency A essay, and worked my way down alphabetically. In Competency H, I found opportunity to use a past personal project as evidence.

The intention had been to turn in two essays a week in order to be finished with the ePortfolio in early October, 2022. This is just who I am –aiming high in case disaster(s) strike-, and having chosen my pieces of evidence beforehand, I was confident of a quick production. Also, I only have one other course this last semester, whose Professor assigns work only every two weeks. However, despite this ideal situation, things did not happen as planned.

From A – F, I was averaging one essay a week. Then a quick turnover of coworkers put extraordinary physical and mental stress on my already dwindling strength and nerves. I fought on until mid-October, when I resigned and logged only 14 hours at a much less intensive position for the next four weeks. This was how I was able to turn in my last competency essay on 11/12/2022.

After the New Year 2023, I planned to transfer this content to WordPress and insert at the beginning my CV. Because most smart phones have readers now, I will generate a QR-code for this ePortfolio-blog.

For Competency A essay, please click ‘Previous Post’ below.