This guide walks you through setting up and testing an Evaluation Portfolio—from instructor setup to learner submission and feedback.
Evaluation Portfolios allows you to support structured assessment and track student progress over time.
- Portfolios can be generated using one or more Canvas courses as their foundation, with links to key assignments and competencies.
- You can establish evidence requirements to align expectations and support consistent demonstration of competencies.
- Align portfolio evidence with institutional competencies to help students demonstrate specific skills and knowledge.
- Monitor progress with real-time visibility into submission status and portfolio completion.
- Streamline grading by using portfolio tasks with Canvas assignments and SpeedGrader.
- Review student 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 appear in your account, it hasn't been enabled by your institution.
- Email and In app notifications are not currently supported.
- Instructors and admins can only create Portfolios if they have been added to a course with a instructors, TA or course designer role.
- At this time, educators can only view their own Evaluation Portfolios. Collaboration or sharing with others is not currently supported.
Evaluation Portfolio Setup & Assignment
Create an Evaluation Portfolio:
1.Navigate to Portfolio via the global navigation bar or course navigation menu in Canvas.
2.Click Create Portfolio.
3.select Create Evaluation Portfolio.
Assign the Portfolio to Courses:
4. Select one or more Canvas courses. Learners enrolled in these courses will be automatically added to the portfolio.
Define Portfolio Details:
5. Enter a title and instructions for the portfolio, Upload a cover image to provide context for learners.
Set Up Evidence Requirements
6. Choose the Add Assignment from Course from the linked courses.
7. Select course assignment, click the Add button.
8. Or Choose Create New Requirement, Add custom evidence types, such as projects, extracurriculars, or professional experience.
8.Write specific instructions for each requirement, Tag each item with the skills it’s intended to demonstrate, Click the Create button.
9.Organize the requirements into sections (e.g., by term, topic, or learning theme).
10. Click Add section button or Manage Sections buttons.
11. Enter section Name, select requirements to go into this section, click the Add Section button.
12. Click the Publish Portfolio button.
Learner Workflow & Submission
Access the Evaluation Portfolio
1.Go to Portfolios from the global navigation bar or Course Navigation menu in Canvas.
2. Open the assigned Evaluation Portfolio.
Note: Evaluation Portfolios include a progress bar on the dashboard and within the portfolio view to help track completion.
Review the Portfolio Structure
3. Explore the sections and review the evidence requirements assigned by your instructor.
Submit Evidence
4.Submit content that aligns with the assigned requirements. You can include:
Text entries (e.g., essays, summaries)
Uploaded media (images, audio, video, PDFs — max 25MB each)
Reflections on learning or growth
Collaborative work that highlights team contributions
Track Progress
Use visual indicators to monitor which items are in draft, submitted, or completed status.
5.Click Save as Draft to continue working privately.
6.Click Submit for Review to send evidence to your instructor for feedback.
Educator Review & Feedback
Access Assigned Portfolios
1.Open the assigned Evaluation Portfolio to view overall progress.
2.Review completion status for the group or individual learners.
Note: Only the educator who created the Evaluation Portfolio can review and manage portfolio evidence submissions.
However, if the Evaluation Portfolio includes linked Canvas assignments, those can be reviewed by other instructors depending on how the assignments were configured in the course.
Review and Provide Feedback
3. Open each submission to review evidence.
4. Leave direct feedback and identify areas for improvement, Allow learners to revise and resubmit as needed.
Mark Evidence as Complete
5.Use the Complete status to confirm acceptable submissions.
6.Grade any linked Canvas assignments through SpeedGrader.
7.Once marked complete, any associated skills will be displayed in the learner’s portfolio.
Portfolio Completion & Export
Respond to Feedback
1.Review instructor comments.
2.Revise and resubmit evidence as necessary.
Complete All Requirements
3.Ensure all required evidence has been submitted and approved.
Review Earned Skills
4.View any demonstrated skills in your portfolio.
Export or Share the Portfolio
5.Export your portfolio as a PDF, HTML file or Download Files.
6.Share it via a public link or on professional platforms like LinkedIn.
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