Using Canvas Portfolio

Note: This article is adapted from Instructure’s Guide on What is Canvas Portfolio?

Canvas offers two portfolio types to support both learner-driven and instructor-guided experiences: Showcase Portfolios and Evaluation Portfolios. These tools support storytelling, assessment, and competency validation.

Instructors can assign structured, competency-based portfolios that allow learners to submit work aligned with institutional requirements and skills. Learners can also create showcase portfolios to curate academic and co-curricular achievements with reflections, tags, and shareable links.

What Is Portfolios Video

View Showcase Portfolios

Showcase Portfolios help learners tell their own stories and highlight growth beyond the classroom.

• Enable learners to build personalized portfolios organized by theme, experience, or timeline.
• Support multiple evidence types, including submitted Canvas assignments and custom portfolio evidence (e.g., projects), allowing learners to submit artifacts directly in the portfolio and reflect on their work.
• Let learners use tags to emphasize competencies and themes, aligning their work with personal or professional goals.
• Offer export options as PDF or HTML, and allow bulk downloading of uploaded portfolio files.
• Facilitate external sharing through public links or direct publishing to LinkedIn.

View Evaluation Portfolios

Evaluation Portfolios allow instructors to support structured assessment and track learner progress over time.

• Portfolios can be generated from one or more Canvas courses, with links to key assignments and competencies.
• Educators can establish evidence requirements to align expectations and support consistent demonstration of competencies.
• Align portfolio evidence with institutional competencies to help learners demonstrate specific skills and knowledge.
• Monitor progress with real-time visibility into submission status and portfolio completion.
• Streamline grading by using Canvas assignments with SpeedGrader or by reviewing Portfolio evidence, such as projects, extracurricular activities, and professional experiences, directly within the portfolio.
• Portfolio evidence can only be marked as Complete or Not Complete, and educators can leave comments on custom evidence to provide feedback to learners.
• Review learner reflections and narratives to better understand learning and growth.
• Support feedback and iteration with options for revisions and resubmissions.

Notes:

• If the Portfolio feature does not display in your account, it hasn’t been enabled by your institution.
• Email and in-app notifications are not currently supported.