Part of the Goals 2010 Challenge Series, Goal 5
Think of the horror! I completed my Masters degree in September, but many of my online profiles I checked today listed this as incomplete! Not such a nightmare, but we probably do not realize how many of our online profiles are outdated. Therefore, I am challenging you today to update at least one of your profiles, with the long-term goal of maintaining a positive digital footprint. You never know who you will run into or the opportunities that await you. Often, as part of my position at Parentella I search for possible conference speakers. Also, I am trying to organize tweet-ups at places I will be traveling to. I browsed through ning profiles to find educators in specific locations since I have yet to find an application that will help me find locations of educators I interact with on Twitter. Several of the profiles I sifted through lacked profile pictures, bios, activity, or links to blogs or other achievements. Just by having updated profiles that I feel positively reflect my attributes and mission, I have been invited to participate in conferences, offered various positions, and established relationships with new colleagues!
Updating Your Profile
To complete this task, update at least one of your profiles on any site, such as on a Ning, Google profile, Blogger (Commenting with your Google profile), Technorati, LinkedIn, or Twitter! If you do not have any online profiles, then I suggest creating one. You can start small by creating a ning or Twitter profile. These take less than 30 minutes to create a really fantastic profile. Here are a few guidelines for maintaining your online profile:
- Remember nearly every social website you sign-up for requires a profile!
- The obvious ones are LinkedIn and Facebook. Keep track of the other social sites you signed up for such as Youtube, Vimeo, Twitter, Google Reader/Profile, Blogger, Delicious, Flickr, SlideShare, and so forth. On most of these accounts you may have no profile listed. My long-term goal is to get suitable profiles on most of social networking sites or get rid of them.
- Note: Try clicking on your avatar when you make a comment on different blogs to see what comes up.
- Include an image, bio, and link to at least one portfolio item!
- If possible the portfolio item should be a video, slide presentation with audio, wiki, or blog. If you really want to draw attention, then offer a lesson, hand-out, presentation, or other product you created for free. I often include the PowerPoint templates I created on the MicroSoft network for educators.
- If you can add a reference letter to the website or a recommendation, then ask your friends if they will write one for you.
- It’s okay to use the same items for each profile!
- If you visit the several nings I participate in, then you will see the same information, look, and image. I developed one profile I liked. Each time I join a new ning, I copy and paste the same information. I usually copy and paste what I can from my ning networks for other networks as well. This saves me a lot of time! Here’s my profile in the Educator’s PLN ning.
- You may notice that I include a recent picture, a short bio, my rss feeds, and places to contact me.
More Resources
If you haven’t already created an online portfolio, resume, or CV then this should definitely be one of your long-term goals. The links below will help you accomplish this:
- My Visual CV– This free website is incredible for creating a professional and impressive portfolio.
- My Google Profile– Another free website that is frequented so you should definitely have a profile with Google.
- Creating Your Digital Self, 4 Parts by Ozge Karaoglu
- Alternative Ideas For Designing A Web Portfolio
- Electronic Portfolios with Google Apps
- What Makes A Digital Portfolio Effective? #Edchat Summary
- 7 Tips for Student Engagement with E-portfolios by Ray Tolley
- EFL Teachers LinkedIn – tech tip #9 by Kalinago English
If you are new to the 30 day Goal challenge then you may want to read this post with more details!
Challenge:
Update one of your online profiles!
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This is goal 5 of this series! If you’d like to join the challenge, please read this post!
Don’t forget to leave a comment that you accomplished this goal using the hashtag #30Goals!
What is your tip for updating a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.?
