Sharing a Portfolio

Once your portfolio is complete, you can share your portfolio with others, so that they are able to view your work. Each time you share a portfolio with others, you create a static snapshot of that portfolio at that point in time. What is shared is that static snapshot. If you make edits that you want to share, you need to share the portfolio again.

Note: It is important that you follow the instructions of your faculty when sharing your portfolio. They may have specific steps for you to use. 

There are 3 primary ways you can share your portfolio:

• Users - this allows you to share your portfolio with specific people at NIU, such as faculty, staff, or other students. You will search for the recipients by name or type in their Account or Z-ID. The portfolio will be listed in the user's Shared with Me area.
• External Users - this option allows you to send your portfolio to anyone using an email address. They will receive a URL to access your portfolio without logging into to Blackboard.
• Submit to a Course - Instead of sharing from the My Portfolios page, submit your portfolio to an assignment within a course. 

To Access Sharing Options

1. Access the My Portfolios page
2. Click the More link below the portfolio you wish to share
3. Click Share from the drop down menu
4. Click the Share a Snapshot with menu

To Share with Internal Users (faculty, staff, or students at NIU)

1. Follow steps 1-4 under To access sharing options
2. Select Users from the Share a Snapshot with menu
3. Click the Browse button
4. Search by first name or last name in the pop-up window
5. Select the individual, then click the Submit button
6. Optional: Click the checkbox to Send Email and type a subject and message
7. Click the Submit button

To Share with External Users via Email

1. Follow steps 1-4 under To access sharing options
2. Select External Users from the Share a Snapshot with menu
3. Enter email addresses in the Email Recipients text box. Use commas to separate multiple addresses
4. Edit the email subject and message
5. Optional: Enter a Password that will be required to access your portfolio
6. Optional: Set an expiration lifetime for how long the recipient will be able to access your portfolio
7. Click the Submit button

Submit Your Portfolio as an Assignment in a Course

1. When you have completed your portfolio, click the Done Editing button
2. Access the course that included the portfolio assignment
3. Find the portfolio submission assignment
4. Click the title of the Assignment
5. Click the Select Portfolio button
6. In the pop-up window, select the portfolio you completed  
7. Click the Submit button
8. Verify that the portfolio is now selected and enter any additional comments
9. Click the Submit button

Remember that if you make changes to your portfolio, your professor will not be able to see them unless they have enabled multiple submissions and you resubmit your portfolio. We recommend waiting to submit your portfolio to an assignment until you are certain it is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions