Voices

More Than Words 

Voice can be a powerful instrument of communication and connection. “Through our voices, we create nuances of meaning, convey our emotions, and find the secret to communicating our excecutive presence that elusive quality we value in leaders who seem to naturally exude confidence and influence” (Bullock et al. 2022, para. 1). With voice being such an impactful means of communitive expression, it is an instrument that should be utilized with thought and measure. “The effective use of volume goes beyond trying to be the loudest person in the room. To direct the flow of any conversation, you must overtly emphasize what linguists call focus words. When you intentionally place volume on certain words, you emphasize parts of a message and shift the direction of a conversation toward your preferred outcome” (Bullock et al. 2022, para. 7). Having a clear understanding of the power of voice enables the speaker to connect with and captivate his targeted audience without overwhelming them with words. 

ePortfolio Meet Voice 

The purpose of an ePoertfolio, is to serve as a career journal for students and professionals to document their journey. By nature, an eportfolio is designed to compile an abundance of information within it, so how can voice be utilized in an impactful way within an ePortfolio? Looking at the COVA approach to learning, voice adds personalization to the ePortfolio. “The opportunity to share this new knowledge publicly with people other than the instructors helps the learner to deepen their understanding, demonstrate flexibility of knowledge, find their unique voice, establish a sense of purpose, and develop a greater sense of personal significance” (Bass, 2014). One way to establish a personal connection with your targeted audience in your ePortfolio through voice is story telling. Implementing a personal story or an impersonal example allows the audience to gain relatability to your subject topic. “Humans have long used stories to make sense of their experience and to communicate the significance of that experience to others. Stories add purpose, meaning and value to life. They entertain, facilitate understanding, help us find connections between ideas, and motivate action” (Jones et al. 2017, p 68).  

Digital Leader of Tomorrow 

Utilizing an ePortfolio has made a huge impact on my growth as a leader and professional. One of the biggest benefits I’ve gained from my journey through developing an eportfolio is improving my assessment skills. “Self-assessment may be one of the most overlooked superpowers our students need to succeed.  When students understand the learning objectives and the standards and can produce artifacts to demonstrate their learning of those standards – magic happens” (Jputnam, 2022, para. 1). As I move forward with a sharpened awareness of self-assessment and reflection, I will be able to better analyze, adjust, and conform innovative concepts to facilitate improvements in myself and the students I lead. 

Reference Page 

Bass, R. (2014). Social pedagogies in ePortfolio practices: Principles for design and impact. Retrieved from http://c2l.mcnrc.org/pedagogy/ped-analysis/ 

Bullock, D & Sanchez, R (Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Voice. (2022, November 11). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/04/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-your-voice 

Jones, B., Leverenz, C., & Texas Christian University. (2017). Building Personal Brands with Digital Storytelling ePortfolios. In International Journal of ePortfolio (No. 1; Vol. 7, pp. 67–91). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1142752.pdf 

Jputnam. (2022, February 7). Empowering students: Utilizing portfolios as a Self-Assessment. Grant Wood AEA. https://www.gwaea.org/2022/02/07/empowering-students-utilizing-portfolios-as-a-self-assessment-2/