Making your e-Portfolio Shine Checklist

Designing your ePortfolio is a multi-step process.  Once you have finished the initial phase of designing and entering content to your e-Portfolio, review the checklist below to ensure the web pages in your environment look the best they can.  Have someone else review your ePortfolio and help you to identify any areas in need of improvement.    

File and Page Naming:

  Naming files: Be sure each file name is eight characters or less and relates to the topic of the website. All the letters should be lower case. Example: websites.htm not Websites.htm

  Be sure each page has a Web Page Title installed.  Web pages should not be titled New Page 1 or Untitled. Instead, use something case letter appropriate and representative of the content on the web page. 

Splash Page:

  The "splash" web page or e-Portfolio transition should involve little or no scrolling.

  The "splash" web page should be contextually appropriate to the information being delivered in subsequent tier web pages.  As well, all other tier web pages should have the same look-and-feel as the "splash" web page.  An exception is your resume - this is a document and should always be black text on what background.

  Any menu should be clearly labeled and arranged.

  The author e-mail link should be added. Example: Web authored by [Your Name]

  The date last updated should be on the splash page.

Second Tier Web Pages

  The titles on second tier web pages should be centered; the paragraphs should be left aligned.

  All upper case lettering should be avoided as it indicates shouting on the web.  Examples: Wrong: WELCOME.  Correct: Welcome to my e-Portfolio

  Grammar and spelling should be accurate.

  If the page is getting long, it should be broken into several pages - especially if there are numerous graphics.

Graphics

  All graphics should be in either .gif or .jpg formats.  Other formats may not show up properly in certain browsers.   Stay away from .bmp, .wmf formats.

  Tables with no borders are a good way to lay out graphics in an orderly fashion, however, use these judiciously.

Tables

  The rows and columns should be clearly labeled when used to display data or lists.

  If a table is used for menu purposes, a title/label should appear above the table indicating so.

Accessibility

  Each graphic should have an alt tag for screen readers to "read" what the graphic is about. This should be a brief descriptor.  If more detail is needed, a caption can be added under the picture or graphic.

  The background and text colors should contrast.

  If graphics or images are used to convey information, the information should be given in an alternative way.

  If there is audio or video output on a page, a transcript should be added for deaf users.

  The language you use should be clear and simple to understand.  If any foreign words are used, this should be noted.

  Be sure each page has a web page title.  Example: for "splash" web page, use a title of “[Your Name] e-Portfolio home page.

  Be sure not to have links that are the raw html web address.  For example: http://www.mcwdn.org/Graphs/TabGraphMain.html is not appropriate.

Navigation and Links

  All links used should be checked to ensure they are current and work properly.

  Pages that are located at other sites should be displayed in a new browser window as much as possible.