Canvas Portfolio Tool (Faculty Guide)

Overview

Canvas offers two types of portfolios:

• Showcase Portfolio – Student-created and student-managed
• Evaluation Portfolio – Instructor-created and tied to course assignments

This guide focuses on Evaluation Portfolios, which allow you to automatically collect and assess student work.

Portfolio Videos

Add Portfolio to Course and Different Types of Portfolios

Step 1: Enable Portfolios in Course Navigation

1. Go to your Course
2. Click Settings
    Note: Located in your course Navigation on the left.
   
3. Select the Navigation tab.
   
4. Locate Portfolios and Click the  Display for Students Check Box.
   
    
5. Click Save
   

Step 2: Create an Evaluation Portfolio

1. Click Account on your Global Navigation(A), select Portfolios in the drop down menu (B).
   
2. Select Create New Portfolio
   
3. Search for and select your course
   • (Optional) Add multiple courses if needed
     
4. Enter a Portfolio Name
   
5. Add Instructions for students.
   

Step 3: Add a Cover Image

• Upload a cover image (required)
   
• Click + Add Cover Image
  
   
• Select Upload
  
   
• Drag or Drop Image File onto the Upload Files Window
  

Edit Your Cover Image

1. Click image with your mouse to move/rotate it
2. Adjust image zoom toggle
3. Adjust rotation toggle to reposition image
4. Add alternative text for accessibility
5. Select Save

NOTE: Use a wide/banner-style image for best results

Side By Side Comparison Portfolio Projects with(1) and Without(2) Banner Images. 

IMPORTANT! You can not add a cover image after Publishing a Portfolio Project!

Step 4: Add Evidence Requirements

Evidence requirements define what students must include.

Option A: Use Existing Assignments (Recommended)

1. Click Add Requirement
   
2. Select Add Assignment from Course.
   
3. Choose one or more assignments
   
4. Click Add
   

Best practice: This automatically pulls in student submissions—no extra work for students.

Option B: Create a New Requirement

1. Click Create New Requirement.
   
2. Create a custom item (not tied to an assignment)
    
3. Add:
   • Title
   • Instructions
   • Skills (optional)

Note: These are not graded and do not appear in the student to-do list.

Step 5: Organize Sections

1. Click Add Section
2. Enter a section name (e.g., Projects, Work Experience)
3. Assign requirements to each section
4. Repeat as needed

Optional:

• Use Manage Sections to reorder or reorganize content

Step 6: Publish the Portfolio

1. Click Publish Portfolio

   

This assigns the portfolio to all students
Students will access it via the Portfolios link (not Modules or Assignments)

Step 7: Student Experience (What to Expect)

Article Underway, Check back for updates.

Step 8: Review Student Portfolios

1. In Portfolio, View student list and progress statuses
2. Click on a student’s portfolio

For each requirement:

1. Open the submission
2. Choose a status:
   • Complete
   • Not Complete
   • Request Revision
3. Add comments (optional)
4. Click Submit Review

Note: Assignment-based items are already graded—no need to re-evaluate them.

Step 9: Monitor Progress

• View overall class progress from the portfolio dashboard
• Identify:
  • Not started
  • In progress
  • Completed portfolios
• Generate reports for larger classes

Have Questions? Contact the Academic Technology Support Team 
 
atst@spcollege.edu

 Phone at 727-341-3500

(Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).
After-hours or weekend assistance? Contact the Technical Support Center

Phone at 727-791-2795 or onlinehelp@spcollege.edu

Want to Schedule a One-on-One or Group Session on Canvas or other instructional technology issues or opportunities?

Schedule 1:1 Support Help with a Member of the Academic Technology Support Team