Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
The Web Portfolio
in the “Knowledge Worker Age”
As a product, tool, learning agent, and appearance of the information society,
I feel Web portfolios are becoming an important technological instrument for
social change in a person's capacity to gain work for hire in the information
driven society.
When we speak of electronic portfolios and specifically of Web portfolios we
are really focusing on information. Gathering information, massaging informa-
tion, organizing information, classifying information, correcting information,
and presenting information in an electronic form is really the guts of the Web
portfolio, or any portfolio. The narrative that evolves out of the information and
the visual and textual components that illuminate that narrative allow an
unlimited venue for publishing creative thoughts. This is a powerful concept that
will become a standard feature of the information society. What will the role of
the electronic portfolio be as the evolution of the information society continues?
The prospects of Web portfolios becoming an important agent for social
change are possible. A universal e-portfolio trend will guide people into joining
the information society and increase knowledge management in everyday life.
Think about it, having an identity on the Web will be critical to financial
prosperity and to electronic and public appearance. The Web portfolio will
allow people to tell their own stories through dynamic mini narratives that will
interweave their personal and professional lives into a global medium that can
enable unlimited opportunity. Their stories, presented electronically, will
become part of their public appearance, appeal and ultimate success. The
narratives that engage the world from the Web portfolio platform will not only
be based on facts and exclusive perspectives, but will be driven emotions as
well as data. The Web portfolio spike of the future will be a direct result of the
emergence of what Dr. Stephen Covey describes as the “knowledge worker
age” (2004, p. 5). In the knowledge worker age, Covey states that their will be
a movement towards creating human capital, both social and intellectual, that
will supersede the wealth creation movement by focusing on people rather than
money (Covey, 2004). A major communication vehicle and personal marketing
tool that will tell peoples personal career stories will be the Web portfolio.
Ultimately, knowledge work enables innovation which translates into money.
Money can be acquired through persuasive communication through multiple
media. Telling people about skills can yield work for hire opportunities to use
