Because ePortfolios are used to document and record an individual's practice, they have an archival nature. They form a "permanent record" of a person's activities and progress.
ePortfolios can also have a developmental nature, when the individual (and their peers) review an ePortfolio to create personal development plans, and to adapt future strategies as a result of the documented case studies presented within an ePortfolio.
Boxes in the Basement
Photograph by Penumbra
Pros:
- a personal content management system
- capable of storing nearly any form of medium.
Cons:
- out of sight, out of mind
- not exactly portable or sharable
Ongoing Notebook
Photograph by csb13
Pros:
- portable
- sharable (with small groups)
- easy to use
Cons:
- limited media types
- runs out of pages