How to Complete a COOL4Ed eTextbook ePortfolio Showcase

Printable version

How do I create my MERLOT account so that I can create my eportfolio?

• Go to http://www.merlot.org
• In the top right corner, select the drop-down menu “Log in/Register.”
• From the drop-down menu select “Not a member?  Register Now!”
• Important:  Make sure you write down your username and password!
• Follow the four step account creation process.
• Email Cathy Swift coswift@outlook.com for assistance.

How do I access the ePortfolio template in MERLOT and save it?

• Go to http://www.merlot.org/
• Login using your username and password.
• In the top right corner, click on your name to expand the user menu and select “Access the Content Builder.”
• Click “Create Web Page,” then select “Template: COOLforEd Faculty OER Adoption Template”. Click “Select Template.”
• Name your ePortfolio (e.,g Course Name-Your Name)
• Select “Save.”
• Email Cathy Swift coswift@outlook.com for assistance.

How do I edit my ePortfolio?

• Log in to http://www.merlot.org
• In the top right corner, click on your name to expand the user menu and select “Access the Content Builder.”
• Click on the title of your ePortfolio Web Page.
• Click the “Edit” button in the top right corner of any box.  A new window will open.
• (Add Text) Type into the template box to add content.  Make sure to delete the template prompts embedded throughout but retain the headers and image at the top of the ePortfolio.
• Click “Submit” at the bottom of the text box.  If you do not click on “Submit” your additions/changes will NOT be saved.
• Email Cathy Swift coswift@outlook.com for assistance.

How do I add an attachment/file or web link to a box?

• Make sure you are logged into http://www.merlot.org, and you are editing your eportfolio.
• Select the box where you would like to add a file or a web link.
• Select the “Edit Files/Links” button in the lower right corner of the box you are editing.  A new window will open.
• Enter the “Title” of the link.
• (To upload a file) Select “Browse” and select the file you would like to upload and make sure to select the box certifying you are not violating any copyright terms.
• (Insert a link) Copy and paste the URL (beginning with “http://”) into the “Enter URL” box.
• Enter a brief description for your link (if needed).
• Click “Save Link.”
• In the top of the pop-up window you will see the link you have successfully added.
• To add more links in a given box, continue to add links following steps #2-8.
• Close the box when you are finished adding files or links.
• Email Cathy Swift coswift@outlook.com for assistance.

How do I upload my images or videos?

• Make sure you are logged into http://www.merlot.org.
• In the top right corner, click on your name in the top right corner to expand the user menu and select “Access the Content Builder.”
• Click on the title of your ePortfolio Web Page.  Click “Edit.”
• Go to the text box where you would like to place your image or video.
• Click on the “Edit Box” button in the top right corner of the box.  A new window will open.
• Click on the “Add/Edit Image” or the “Add/Edit Video” tabs.
• To Add/Edit an Image: 
  • Using the “Add/Edit Image” tab at the top of the Edit window, you can upload and resize an image to fit into your box. You can upload a file from your computer, or link to an image already online. You can also delete images that you added to a box.
  • To add an image, follow Steps 1 – 4, for example:  edit image or video
    • Step 1 – Choose File from your computer,  Provide succinct description for the “Alternative Image Text”
    • Step 2 – Text Wrap:  Select where you would like your image to reside with respect to the text in your Box.
    • Step 3 – Select “Yes” that you have permission to publish the image.
    • Step 4 – Click “Save Image.”
    • To Add/Edit Video
      • Using the “Add/Edit Video” tab at the top of the Edit window, you can add or edit a video. You can link to a video that’s already online. The video will be added to whichever box you select to edit, and when selected, it will open in a new window from your web page. To add a video from a video-sharing site (such as YouTube), copy and paste the embed code provided by the video sharing site into the space provided. Videos embedded in this way will appear and play directly in your web page. You also have the option of deleting the video.
      • To link to a video, follow Steps 1 – 7, for example:
        • Step 1 – Fill in the “Title” box add video
        • Step 2 – Copy paste the “embed code” from the streaming server where the video currently resides.
        • Step 3 – Provide a succinct description of the video.
        • Step 4 – Attach a transcript of the video if the video is not already captioned. (Optional)
        • Step 5 – Select your “Display Options.”  Author and Additional Information is optional.
        • Step 6 – Select “Yes” that you have permission to publish this video.
        • Step 7 – Click “Save Video.”
        • View your eportfolio to confirm the image or video has been satisfactorily added to your text box.

Why is one column in my ePortfolio very wide, and the other is very small?

• If you have an image or video in a box, Content Builder will keep that width and resize other columns to fit the existing browser window. 
• You should resize the image/video display setting in order to make the columns in better proportion. 
• Make sure you are logged into http://www.merlot.org.
• In the top right corner, click on your name to expand the user menu and select “Access the Content Builder.”
• Click on the title of your ePortfolio Web Page.  Click “Edit.”
• Go to the box with the image/video to be resized. Click the “edit box” button.
• At the top of the window that pops up, select “Add/Edit Image” or “Add/Edit Video. Follow the instructions to resize the image as appropriate for your media and page. Generally speaking, “small” or “medium” sizes are preferable.

How do I make my ePortfolio public?

• Make sure you are logged into http://www.merlot.org.
• In the top right corner, click on your name to expand the user menu and select “Access the Content Builder.”
• In your MERLOT Content Builder, select “Manage Web Pages” and select the title of ePortfolio you are working on.
• Select “Make Web Page Public” from the actions menu.
• Give your page a “Short Title.” (e.g, Biology101_JohnSmith)
• Select “Save” in the bottom right corner. Your “Public URL” will be visible on your “My Web Page.”  public url
• Copy and paste your Public URL into the ePortfolio Submission Form as needed.
• Email Cathy Swift coswift@outlook.com for assistance.