This week, we were asked to review digital portfolios, as well as advice on digital portfolios, and describe the lessons found in these sites.

I want to preface my writing by saying that I don’t like posting publicly. I absolutely understand the importance of curating a digital presence. However, I am deeply uncomfortable with having my writing, likeness, or personal life online, because once it is available digitally, it becomes open to criticism and adaptation. It is one thing for my research and writing to be graded by a professor or for my Insta to be seen by friends and family; It is another for strangers to be able to see and share what I have posted and to publicly comment on it. It is also different for me when it is a project that I have completed on behalf of an entity, such as the Adair County Historical Society or the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, to be publicly available versus a personal project without organizational ties.

On to the actual assignment for this week – 5 lessons on building a digital presence:

1. Blogs (and a digital presence in general) are modern day equivalents of early book and pamphlet publishing – a way of sharing beliefs and knowledge, influencing public opinion, and recording history in a digital age.
2. The details and style of a digital portfolio can vary widely depending on what field a person is in. There is no “correct” way to design a digital portfolio.
3. You don’t need to have a book published or be vying for a specific position to necessitate a digital portfolio. It can be adapted throughout the various stages of your career.
4. Digital portfolios and a general online presence can be used to reveal aspects of your personality based on the design choices. It doesn’t have to be as bland as a traditional resume.
5. It is acceptable to have different degrees of interaction with your online presence. If anything, it should be expected that your digital presence is at least slightly different across platforms.

In conclusion, while my anxiety around having an online presence is probably due for a conversation with my therapist, it is important for me to continue developing a digital portfolio and continue creating digital projects and writing that showcases my skills and knowledge. However, while I am happy to write posts and articles for classes and careers, I draw the line at a writing a personal blog (sorry Dan Cohen).

Sites reviewed: controlling your public appearance | danah boyd | apophenia; Professors, Start Your Blogs; Rebecca S. Wingo; Matthew Binamira Sanders; Digital — Stella Swope; Digital Identities: Six Key Selves of Networked Publics | the theoryblog