Creating Student Portfolios

Creating Student Portfolios

Student portfolios are created as separate sites within the SWPRO WordPress Multisite network. Each student receives access to their own portfolio and is responsible for developing the content over the course of the program.

New portfolios are usually created at the beginning of the school year or semester, based on the list of students provided by professors.

Before You Begin

Before creating new portfolios, make sure you have:

  • The official list of students who need portfolios
  • Each student’s full name
  • Each student’s Southern email address
  • Access to SWPRO Network Admin
  • Access to the approved portfolio templates
  • Access to update the portfolio list at www.swpro.org/portfolios
  • The standard email message sent to students after setup

Use the official list provided by the professor or program representative. Do not create portfolios from memory or informal lists.

Required Student Information

For each student, you need the student’s full name and Southern email address.

The first part of the Southern email address is used for both the portfolio URL and the login username.

Example:

The portfolio address should always match the first part of the student’s Southern email address.

Create the Portfolio Site

Log in to SWPRO with administrator credentials.

Go to:

My Sites → Network Admin → Sites

Create a new site using:

  • Site address: first part of the student’s Southern email address
  • Site title: student’s full name

Example:

  • Email: crusu@southern.edu
  • Site address: swpro.org/crusu
  • Site title: Corneliu Rusu

After creating the site, confirm that it appears in the WordPress network site list.

Set Up the Home Page and Theme

After creating the portfolio site, go to the new student portfolio dashboard:

My Sites → [Student Portfolio Site] → Dashboard

Then complete these setup steps:

  1. Go to Pages.
  2. Open the existing Sample Page.
  3. Rename the page Home.
  4. Change the page address/slug to home.
  5. Go to Appearance → Themes.
  6. Select a simple approved theme. The commonly used theme is Twenty Ten.
  7. Go to Theme Settings or Customize, depending on the WordPress options available.
  8. Change the front page setting from blog posts to a static page.
  9. Select Home as the static front page.

This makes sure the student portfolio opens on a regular homepage instead of showing blog posts.

Apply the Portfolio Template

SWPRO uses approved WordPress templates that have already been added to the system. Students may choose from these templates, but they should not upload new templates.

After creating the site, confirm that the approved templates are available for the student’s portfolio.

Do not install new templates for individual students unless the program has approved them.

Assign Student Access

Add the student as the Administrator of their own portfolio site.

Use the first part of the student’s Southern email address as the username.

Example:

  • Email: crusu@southern.edu
  • Username: crusu

The office manager creates the login password when setting up the portfolio. Students do not change passwords on their own. If they forget their password or cannot log in, they should contact the office manager.

Confirm that:

  • The student is added to the correct portfolio site
  • The username is correct
  • The student role is set to Administrator
  • The student’s Southern email is connected to the account

Set Visibility and Privacy

Student portfolios are password protected.

SWPRO uses a WordPress feature or plugin that protects the entire portfolio site with a viewing password. This is separate from the student’s login password.

  • Login password: allows the student to edit the portfolio
  • Viewing password: allows professors or others to view the portfolio

Students may share the viewing password with professors, field instructors, potential employers, or others they choose.

Before finishing setup, confirm that the portfolio is not openly visible without the viewing password.

Add the Portfolio to the Alphabetical List

After creating the portfolio, add the student’s name and portfolio link to the alphabetical list at:

www.swpro.org/portfolios

The list is organized by family name.

For example:

  • Last name: Rusu
  • Add to: www.swpro.org/portfolios/r

Make sure the student’s name is spelled correctly and the link opens the correct portfolio.

This list is important because professors often use it to locate student portfolios.

Test the Portfolio

Before emailing the student, test the setup.

Check that:

  • The portfolio URL opens correctly
  • The Home page opens as the front page
  • The selected theme is active
  • The site title shows the student’s full name
  • The portfolio requires the viewing password
  • The viewing password works
  • The student username is correct
  • The student has Administrator access
  • The approved templates are available
  • The portfolio is listed on the correct alphabetical page
  • The alphabetical list link opens the correct portfolio

Email the Student

After testing, email the student their portfolio information.

Include:

  • Portfolio address
  • Login address
  • Username
  • Login password
  • Portfolio viewing password, if different
  • Link to the student tutorial page
  • Instructions to contact the office manager for technical problems

Also remind students that they are responsible for developing their portfolio content according to professor guidance.