Lori Gallimore, Extension Specialist
The deadline for main 4-H project e-portfolio submissions is May 12, 2020. This date is later than our traditional May 1 deadline because of conflicts with another conference around the May 1 time- line. However, in light of recent events and ultimate delays with the COVID-19 virus outbreak, this will give us all more time to prepare.
You might be wondering; how do I help my 4-H’er prepare the e-portfolio when we can’t get together and work? Sure … it can be a little overwhelming to build the e-portfolio even on a “good day”. The limitations now put on our opportunities to come together will complicate things for certain.
You may need to rethink your training plans. Remember, there are a number of electronic training tools available for you to use!
Self-Guided e-Training Resources Available
The following electronic training resources are housed in YouTube and available for your 4-H’ers to access and review on their own. These sections highlight what elements of their project work go in- to which section, how each part of the portfolio fits with the others, and what the judges evaluating.
Create Your Own Zoom Training!
You may want to create a training of your very own! You can do this by using Zoom and host it live with your 4-H members so that they can interact and ask questions. These Power Points are now available for 4-H agents to use in their county trainings – no matter how that looks now! These will require your net i.d. and password to download.
Create Your Own Zoom Training!
You may want to create a training of your very own! You can do this by using Zoom and host it live with your 4-H members so that they can interact and ask questions. These Power Points are now available for 4-H agents to use in their county trainings – no matter how that looks now! These will require your net i.d. and password to download.
- “Good or Bad?” — 4-H Project Plans”
- “Writing for Impact”
- “Where Does This Go? The A B C’s of Section C”
- Rank These! Selecting the Best Photos for Your Portfolio
- Pick It Apart: Tennessee 4-H Project Portfolio Resume Activity
How do you eat an elephant?
… one bite at a time, of course! Do yourself a favor and set up small deadlines for each 4-H’er to hit regarding their e-portfolio work. Have them submit their URL addresses and passwords to you so that you can check the work electronically and respond back to them with guidance and suggestions. Here’s a suggested timeline:
- March 31 – Section C
- April 7 – Section B
- April 14 – Section A
- April 21 – Resume
- April 28 – Showcase
- May 5 – Photos and Other Project Records
- May 12 – Submission Deadline
Other e-Resources
Remember, there are other e-resources available to you on the 4-H website to help with the constructions of the e-portfolio. You can find these by clicking on the “PROGRAMS” button on the front page of the website and scrolling to the bottom. These resources include the following:
- Section A, B and C and entry form interactive forms
- Step-by-step guide for building a website
- Guidelines for the 4-H portfolio
- Prototype of the 4-H project e-portfolio
- 4-H portfolio rubric
- 4-H interview preparation resources
- 4-H Project Interview
- Using the 4-H Project Showcase in Your Interview
What if my 4-H’er was named a finalist in Leadership and Citizenship?
We know that you have a lot of questions about 4-H Congress. We do too! We want every opportunity to be given to our 4-H members to compete for scholarships and that coveted trip to National 4-H Congress! We are meeting this week to look at how the delay of 4-H Congress impacts us as we move forward – including the competition elements! I can assure you that your 4-H’ers will have the chance to compete in their main project, if they so choose! HOW that looks is what is unknown at this point. Stay tuned!
If you have any questions, please contact me!
4-H Project Portfolio Training Resources
In 2019, the Tennessee 4-H Project Portfolio moves to a web-based format. To help parents, 4-H’ers, volunteers and other working with the 4-H Project Portfolio have a better understanding of what each part of the portfolio should contain, a series of training videos have been created:
In addition to training videos, training Power Points are now available for 4-H agents to use in their county trainings. These will require you net i.d. and password to download.
- “Good or Bad?” – 4-H Project Plans”
- “Writing for Impact”
- “Where Does This Go? The A B C’s of Section C”
- Rank These! Selecting the Best Photos for Your Portfolio
- Pick It Apart: Tennessee 4-H Project Portfolio Resume Activity
The following is a list of the 2019 Section A, Section B and Section C forms that 4-H’ers will need to use in their portfolios beginning in May 2019. No 2019 forms should be included in the February submissions. All years prior to 2019 can access the forms found on the 4-H website under “Forms” on the front page (scroll down to Portfolios):
- Section A Main Project
- Section B Leadership
- Section C Citizenship
Link to Entry Form
Link to 4-H web-based portfolio prototype
Link to 4-H portfolio guidelines (instructions)
Link to 4-H portfolio rubric (score card)
Link to 4-H Interview Preparation Resources:
- 4-H Project Interview
- Using the 4-H Project Showcase in Your Interview
Finally, the following document is the step-by-step guide to building a web-based 4-H Project Portfolio:
- 4-H Project Portfolio Step-by-Step to Website Development
