BMKT 405 e-Portfolio Assignment

Estimated time: approximately 30 - 60 min.

Having a repository to store your assignment and other files (e.g. resume, your photo, etc.) will be an important part of your e-portfolio. Having this repository accessible from the Web will enable any visitor to your site to have access to files you want to share.

a) Select file storage approach
To store and host your files, you can use the free storage service, MediaMax. This is the service we recommend you use (based on 25 GB storage amounts, fact that it is free and one of the leading services, extensive functionality, and good help menus / support).



Other possible storage locations include:
- other third party free storage services (e.g. XDrive, Box.net, Wikispaces) or fee-based storage services (e.g. Strong Space, XDrive). This article by Michael Arrington at TechCrunch.com provides a good overview of some of the file storage options available. Note: it's from January, 2006... some of the services have changed since then but most of the information is current.

b) Register for File Storage Service
Click here to register for MediaMax. The registration process is straightforward...

c) Collect files that will be used in your e-portfolio
Here are the files that should be part of your e-portfolio:

• Resume (best to use a modified version of your resume that doesn't include all of your personal contact details, especially if you do not make your e-portfolio private)
• At least two BSYS 1000 group assignments (e.g. PPT assignment, Word assignment, Excel assignment)
• At least three other group or individual assignments from some of your other courses


Here are the optional files that you may want to be part of your e-portfolio:

• Photo of yourself (optional, for privacy reasons, you may decide not to use a photo)
• Asssignments from other courses/projects you are doing
• Files of previous work you have done outside of BCIT

d) Upload files to your File Storage Space
Gather the required files as listed above and any optional files and then upload them to your file storage space.

For MediaMax, you upload to your MyFiles folder. You can use MediaMax's Web-based file upload interface or you can download and install a program on your home PC to speed up the file management process.

Here are instructions for MediaMax's file uploading.

If you want your files to be accessible from the Internet, you need to move the files to the Hosted folder.

Here are the instructions for MediaMax's web hosting. This includes information on how to find the URL of your hosted files (so you can insert this URL into your e-portfolio later).

One of the side benefits of using MediaMax is you can also email the files you have stored to others, something that is prevented with other services (e.g. maximum 10 megabyte file via MyBCIT email). You can set it up so that the file is attached with the email or it's accessed via a link to MediaMax (can be password protected too).

Here are the instructions for sharing your MediaMax stored files with others.

e) Backup your files
You should always have a backup of all your files that you have stored at a storage service like MediaMax or your BCIT storage options. In the event there are any problems at MediaMax you could then host your files at another source. BCIT Personal Files are also deleted every summer so you can't rely on your PersonalFiles as a long-term file storage solution. If your original storage location changes, you would have to update your links in your blog template and postings so they point to your new file storage location.

Your back up files could be located on your home PC, a portable storage drive, CD-ROM, etc. You may even want to keep three copies of everything in case your primary and secondary storage options have problems at the same time (not a far-fetched scenario!).

Here are the instructions for downloading a backup file of batch of files to your home computer using MediaMax.