Canvas Portfolio Feature Preview • FAQ

[#1]

1. Overview

Q: What is Canvas Portfolio?
A: Canvas Portfolio is an LTI 1.3 tool included at no additional cost with an existing Canvas subscription. It provides structured, purpose-built spaces for learners to collect, reflect on, and curate evidence of their learning. Portfolios help students demonstrate progress toward competencies, and tell a cohesive story of academic and skill development over time.

There are two primary types of Portfolios:

• Evaluation Portfolios – Assigned by institutions to support structured assessment.
  • Evaluation Portfolios are especially powerful for educators. They can be:
    • Templated to guide learners with predefined structure, instructions, and expectations.
    • Duplicated and reused each semester across courses or cohorts, allowing institutions to standardize learning assessment while still enabling personalization.
      

• Showcase Portfolios – Created independently by learners to highlight their personal journey.
  
  

🔧 Note: The new Portfolio is not a native Canvas feature. It must be installed and configured as an LTI tool.

2. Access, Availability & Setup

Q: When will the new Portfolio tool be available?
A:

• Early Adopter Program (EAP/closed beta): May 28 – June 18, 2025
• Feature Preview (Open Beta): July 31, 2025
• General Availability: Targeting January 2026
  
  

Q: Is the Portfolio tool native to Canvas?
A: No. It is an external LTI 1.3 tool available in Canvas. It must be installed and configured by admins.

Q: How do institutions participating in the Feature Preview enable the Portfolio tool?
A: Admins can follow these guides to set up the Portfolio LTI tool.

1. Enhanced Portfolio LTI Configuration: Part 1 – LTI registration
2. Enhanced Portfolio LTI Configuration: Part 2 – App installation & Enable/Disable Placements

Please note that admin access is required to complete the installation and configuration.

Q: Can the new Portfolio be enabled on a subaccount?

A: Yes, the Portfolio LTI can be configured at both the root or a sub-account level.

Q: Can users migrate content from the legacy Canvas Portfolio or Portfolium to the new Portfolio?
A: No. Migration is not supported. Users should export their content manually from legacy tools to preserve it.

3. Portfolio Types, Use Cases and workflows

Q: Can Evaluation Portfolios include courses from multiple semesters?
A: Not yet. Currently, Evaluation Portfolios are limited to courses from a single semester. A future version will support multi-semester portfolios, planned to be available during the Feature Preview phase.

Q: Can Canvas Assignments use Portfolio as an external submission type?
A: No, this is not currently supported.

Q: How are learners enrolled into Evaluation Portfolios?

A:Learners are automatically enrolled through the initial course setup. Anyone enrolled in the associated course(s) as a learner will receive the Evaluation Portfolio as an assigned portfolio in their learner account. 

Q: What types of Portfolios are supported?
A:

• (Assigned) Evaluation Portfolios – for educator-guided reflection and assessment, tracking progress across courses within a single semester
• Showcase Portfolios – independently curated by learners
  
  

4. Portfolio Features

For Educators/Admins:

• Assign portfolio templates to learners
• Preconfigure structure, competencies, and required evidence
• Monitor progress across learners and portfolios
• Provide item-level feedback
• Use SpeedGrader for grading Canvas Assignments
• Mark Portfolio evidence as "Complete"/"Incomplete"
  
  

For Learners:

• Curate varied evidence: coursework, extracurriculars, media, etc.
• Tag competencies
• Reflect on submissions
• Build and customize showcase portfolios
• Include previously submitted Canvas Assignments
• Collaborate with peers (evaluation Portfolios only)
  
  

Q: Can Portfolios be edited?
A:

• Showcase Portfolios: Yes, they are fully editable by learners.
  Evaluation Portfolios: Not after publishing. Editing functionality and adding courses post-publishing will be supported in a future update.
  
  

Q: Is SpeedGrader used to grade Portfolio evidence?
A:

• Canvas Assignments: Still graded via SpeedGrader.
• Portfolio Evidence: Marked as complete/incomplete within the Portfolio UI — separate from assignment grading.
  
  

5. Sharing, Export, and Graduation

Q: Can learners export their Portfolios? In what formats?
A: Yes. Export is supported in HTML and PDF formats. Learners can also bulk download all files uploaded to their portfolio.

Q: Can learners share their Portfolios with external users?
A:

• Portfolios can be shared via view-only public links.
• Commenting by external users is not yet available but is on our roadmap.
  
  

Q: Can external reviewers grade or comment on Portfolios?
A: No. External users only have view-only access. To grade or comment, they must be granted an educator role within Canvas by the institution.

Q: Are learners notified when actions are taken on their Portfolio?
A: Not yet. Notifications will be introduced during the Feature Preview phase.

Q: Can learners retain their Portfolios after graduation?
A: No, long-term access to Canvas Portfolios after graduation will not be supported. However, learners are able to export their portfolios (as HTML or PDF) to take their work with them.