4 answers
Genesis
Student
Florence, Alabama
4
Questions
Asked
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As a Junior in High school should I start a portfolio for Robotics/Mechatronics?
If so, what kinds of things should I put into the portfolio and how should I make it.
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4 answers
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
217
Answers
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
In my experience, an actual physical portfolio is something I would associate much more with visual and creative arts fields - something artists and architects have - and is not something many people do (or ask for) in STEM fields like robotics. In some software fields, I do see people with "portfolio" style websites showcasing coding or web design projects, but other than that, I'd say having a "portfolio " in more technical subjects is more about having a mental history of projects you've worked on that you can call on to answer the "tell me about a time when you..." sort of interview questions, rather than having a physical folder of work. These examples can be anything, including school work, extracurricular clubs, actual work projects, or hobby projects. Robotics and mechatronics is a great area for hobby projects being really accessible at a home level with things like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, LEGO Mindstorms and more.
Of course, that's not to say having some kind of physical portfolio is a bad thing - in some situations having something physical to show could really set you apart from the crowd. However it's something I've never been asked about so wouldn't be something I'd necessarily spend a lot of time finessing a large number of examples. Personally, what I have done in the past, and what I advise students I supervise to do; is to take along hard copies of one or two significant project work documents (like a final-year project dissertation) to use as examples in an interview, and that's been very successful for me.
Of course, that's not to say having some kind of physical portfolio is a bad thing - in some situations having something physical to show could really set you apart from the crowd. However it's something I've never been asked about so wouldn't be something I'd necessarily spend a lot of time finessing a large number of examples. Personally, what I have done in the past, and what I advise students I supervise to do; is to take along hard copies of one or two significant project work documents (like a final-year project dissertation) to use as examples in an interview, and that's been very successful for me.
Thank you!
Genesis
Chris Schule
Consultant
5
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Chris’s Answer
Hi Genesis,
It is awesome that you're thinking about this at an early stage in your education and career! Some of what I will say echoes previous answers, and I believe Joseph gave a great practical answer. The first thing you should be thinking about is why build a portfolio. Is it to gain entry to a robotics team, club, or some professional organization?
If it is for a job, you generally will not need to have a formalized portfolio if you go on to pursue a mechanical, electrical, or a specific mechatronics engineering degree during undergraduate studies. However, it may be a good idea to make one if you decide against studying a STEM related field as the portfolio would help demonstrate your aptitude and practical experience that your coursework may not reflect. I imagine this is not the case for you since most high schoolers interested in robotics/mechatronics will go on to study some type of engineering!
In any case, you should absolutely keep some type of log for your projects to document learnings and results so that you can incorporate them into your resume and talk about them during interviews. If you find a digital portfolio is a fun and efficient way to achieve this goal, or you want to easily share your projects with others, then by all means set up a website and detail your projects! At worst, you learn a little bit about website design, hosting, domain names, etc.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
It is awesome that you're thinking about this at an early stage in your education and career! Some of what I will say echoes previous answers, and I believe Joseph gave a great practical answer. The first thing you should be thinking about is why build a portfolio. Is it to gain entry to a robotics team, club, or some professional organization?
If it is for a job, you generally will not need to have a formalized portfolio if you go on to pursue a mechanical, electrical, or a specific mechatronics engineering degree during undergraduate studies. However, it may be a good idea to make one if you decide against studying a STEM related field as the portfolio would help demonstrate your aptitude and practical experience that your coursework may not reflect. I imagine this is not the case for you since most high schoolers interested in robotics/mechatronics will go on to study some type of engineering!
In any case, you should absolutely keep some type of log for your projects to document learnings and results so that you can incorporate them into your resume and talk about them during interviews. If you find a digital portfolio is a fun and efficient way to achieve this goal, or you want to easily share your projects with others, then by all means set up a website and detail your projects! At worst, you learn a little bit about website design, hosting, domain names, etc.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
Thank you this is very helpful!
Genesis
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1848
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Genesis !
This is a really good question and very rarely asked. I am impressed by your initiative and would be happy to provide some advice.
Yes, by all means you should start a professional portfolio for your Robotics and Mechatronics work and every project or event and activity you are involved in.
To start, it is best to create both an online and offline portfolio. You will need an online portfolio for when schools or employers ask you to send a link of your work (also type the link on your resume) and you will need the offline hard copy portfolio for in person interviews. Purchase a professional portfolio for the offline and explore websites that are good for portfolios online such as Wix, Adobe Portfolio, Behance Weebly and Dribble. You may have to pay a fee for the online portfolio, but if you want to start out for free, use Pinterest until you can pay for a site.
For the hard copy, it will be really simple. Buy a larger portfolio, not real large, but not a small one. On the first page you can place a nice portrait photo of yourself and underneath the photo, write your name which would be on a piece of good bond paper printed and under that, on the same bond paper, write your title, something like Robotics and Mechatronics Student at "whatever" University. Under that, on bond paper, write a descriptive bio of yourself and the projects that you work on. As you progress, you can change your title and description to update it.
The next pages of the hard copy portfolio will have photos of all your projects with descriptions under the photo. You can put two projects on one page. Make sure the photos are good quality. If the project was in technology and it was a website, print the home page of the company and have a description of what you did for that company. You are basically documenting every single project you work on. If you work on any projects in high school but a company is going to use it, write the description of the company and not just "did this in high school". Each time you have new work, you add it to a page. You will also add all the photos and descriptions to Pinterest (until you can pay for a Portfolio site). If a link to your portfolio is requested, provide the URL to your Pinterest Account and use that account only for the collection of your work.
Using a portfolio may also increase your drive towards working on more projects ! Be involved as much as you can at school and search the web for projects that you can do. I left links below for some ideas.
I hope that this can be a good start for you and I wish you all the best !
ROBOTIC PROJECT IDEAS https://www.electronicsforu.com/electronics-projects/hardware-diy/25-robotics-project-ideas
MORE PROJECT IDEAS https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/top-7-projects-in-robotics-for-beginners-and-intermediates/#
This is a really good question and very rarely asked. I am impressed by your initiative and would be happy to provide some advice.
Yes, by all means you should start a professional portfolio for your Robotics and Mechatronics work and every project or event and activity you are involved in.
To start, it is best to create both an online and offline portfolio. You will need an online portfolio for when schools or employers ask you to send a link of your work (also type the link on your resume) and you will need the offline hard copy portfolio for in person interviews. Purchase a professional portfolio for the offline and explore websites that are good for portfolios online such as Wix, Adobe Portfolio, Behance Weebly and Dribble. You may have to pay a fee for the online portfolio, but if you want to start out for free, use Pinterest until you can pay for a site.
For the hard copy, it will be really simple. Buy a larger portfolio, not real large, but not a small one. On the first page you can place a nice portrait photo of yourself and underneath the photo, write your name which would be on a piece of good bond paper printed and under that, on the same bond paper, write your title, something like Robotics and Mechatronics Student at "whatever" University. Under that, on bond paper, write a descriptive bio of yourself and the projects that you work on. As you progress, you can change your title and description to update it.
The next pages of the hard copy portfolio will have photos of all your projects with descriptions under the photo. You can put two projects on one page. Make sure the photos are good quality. If the project was in technology and it was a website, print the home page of the company and have a description of what you did for that company. You are basically documenting every single project you work on. If you work on any projects in high school but a company is going to use it, write the description of the company and not just "did this in high school". Each time you have new work, you add it to a page. You will also add all the photos and descriptions to Pinterest (until you can pay for a Portfolio site). If a link to your portfolio is requested, provide the URL to your Pinterest Account and use that account only for the collection of your work.
Using a portfolio may also increase your drive towards working on more projects ! Be involved as much as you can at school and search the web for projects that you can do. I left links below for some ideas.
I hope that this can be a good start for you and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much, this is extremely helpful!
Genesis
You are so very welcome, Genesis !
Michelle M.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
528
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Genesis,
Fantastic question! Yes, starting a portfolio for Robotics/Mechatronics is a great idea! It will help you showcase your skills and projects when applying for internships, scholarships, or even college programs. Here’s how to get started and what to include:
What to Include in Your Robotics/Mechatronics Portfolio:
1. Personal Introduction:
- A brief statement about your interests, goals, and what inspires you in robotics and mechatronics.
2. Projects:
- Robotics Projects: Include details of any robots you've built, whether through school, competitions (like FIRST Robotics or VEX), or personal projects.
- Coding: Any programming related to robotics, like control systems, sensor integration, or automation. Be sure to mention languages used (e.g., Python, C++, Arduino).
- 3D Printing/Design: If you’ve designed or printed parts, include CAD designs or pictures of printed models.
- Circuits and Electronics: Show projects where you've worked with circuits, microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi), or sensors.
- Competitions/Challenges: If you've participated in any robotics competitions, highlight your role, team achievements, and lessons learned.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: If you’ve worked with others, describe how you contributed and what you learned from teamwork.
3. Skills:
- Technical Skills: Programming languages, hardware skills (soldering, PCB design), software (CAD tools like SolidWorks, Fusion 360, etc.).
- Soft Skills: Leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and any communication skills.
4. Documentation and Code:
- GitHub/Code Repositories: Include a link to any open-source projects or repositories where you’ve documented code.
- Project Logs: Keep a record of your build process, challenges faced, and how you solved them. Visual documentation like photos and videos is great for demonstrating your progress.
5. Courses and Certifications:
- Online Courses: List any robotics-related courses (like Coursera or edX) and certifications (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or any AI-related courses).
- Workshops/Training: Mention any robotics workshops, boot camps, or extra training you’ve attended.
How to Build the Portfolio:
1. Website:
- Create a simple website to showcase your projects, which can also serve as a resume. Use platforms like GitHub Pages, Wix, or WordPress.
- Include images, project descriptions, and links to any repositories.
2. PDF/Presentation:
- Alternatively, create a downloadable PDF or PowerPoint presentation showcasing your work. You can also create a visually appealing PDF with Canva or Google Slides.
3. GitHub:
- Set up a GitHub account to host your code and documentation. Include detailed readme files to explain each project.
4. Blog/Project Logs:
- Writing a blog on platforms like Medium or WordPress about your learning experiences and projects can help you stand out.
How to Maintain the Portfolio:
- Regular Updates: Continuously update your portfolio with new projects and skills as you grow.
- Feedback: Share your portfolio with teachers, mentors, or peers to get feedback on improvements.
This portfolio will be a great tool to showcase your evolving skills!
Best wishes!
Fantastic question! Yes, starting a portfolio for Robotics/Mechatronics is a great idea! It will help you showcase your skills and projects when applying for internships, scholarships, or even college programs. Here’s how to get started and what to include:
What to Include in Your Robotics/Mechatronics Portfolio:
1. Personal Introduction:
- A brief statement about your interests, goals, and what inspires you in robotics and mechatronics.
2. Projects:
- Robotics Projects: Include details of any robots you've built, whether through school, competitions (like FIRST Robotics or VEX), or personal projects.
- Coding: Any programming related to robotics, like control systems, sensor integration, or automation. Be sure to mention languages used (e.g., Python, C++, Arduino).
- 3D Printing/Design: If you’ve designed or printed parts, include CAD designs or pictures of printed models.
- Circuits and Electronics: Show projects where you've worked with circuits, microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi), or sensors.
- Competitions/Challenges: If you've participated in any robotics competitions, highlight your role, team achievements, and lessons learned.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: If you’ve worked with others, describe how you contributed and what you learned from teamwork.
3. Skills:
- Technical Skills: Programming languages, hardware skills (soldering, PCB design), software (CAD tools like SolidWorks, Fusion 360, etc.).
- Soft Skills: Leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and any communication skills.
4. Documentation and Code:
- GitHub/Code Repositories: Include a link to any open-source projects or repositories where you’ve documented code.
- Project Logs: Keep a record of your build process, challenges faced, and how you solved them. Visual documentation like photos and videos is great for demonstrating your progress.
5. Courses and Certifications:
- Online Courses: List any robotics-related courses (like Coursera or edX) and certifications (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or any AI-related courses).
- Workshops/Training: Mention any robotics workshops, boot camps, or extra training you’ve attended.
How to Build the Portfolio:
1. Website:
- Create a simple website to showcase your projects, which can also serve as a resume. Use platforms like GitHub Pages, Wix, or WordPress.
- Include images, project descriptions, and links to any repositories.
2. PDF/Presentation:
- Alternatively, create a downloadable PDF or PowerPoint presentation showcasing your work. You can also create a visually appealing PDF with Canva or Google Slides.
3. GitHub:
- Set up a GitHub account to host your code and documentation. Include detailed readme files to explain each project.
4. Blog/Project Logs:
- Writing a blog on platforms like Medium or WordPress about your learning experiences and projects can help you stand out.
How to Maintain the Portfolio:
- Regular Updates: Continuously update your portfolio with new projects and skills as you grow.
- Feedback: Share your portfolio with teachers, mentors, or peers to get feedback on improvements.
This portfolio will be a great tool to showcase your evolving skills!
Best wishes!
Thank you for the advice.
Genesis
Of course!
Chinyere Okafor