Canvas Portfolio Walkthrough Slides
Grade 9 • College & Career Prep
Screenshot Step-by-Step Guide
Creating Your Showcase Portfolio in Canvas
Visual walkthrough with step-by-step Canvas screenshots showing you exactly where to click, what to name your portfolio, and how to upload evidence.
Visual Cues
Look for the orange highlight rings
Canvas Native
Works directly in your school LMS
4-Year Archive
Preserves your best high school work
Freshman Foundations
Why Build an Artifact Portfolio?
Big Picture
Showcase Real Skills
Grades only tell part of your story. Artifacts prove your critical thinking, creative projects, and problem-solving in action.
Authentic Proof
College & Career Ready
Internship supervisors, scholarship committees, and college advisors love reviewing portfolios of student growth.
Future Ready
Centralized Vault
Instead of losing your best coursework across random files, Canvas saves your artifacts right alongside your classes.
Organized Vault
Tip: Follow the numbered screenshots in the next slides to set up your portfolio in minutes!
Steps 1–7
Step 1 of 7
Click "Account" in Canvas
Navigation
Action Required
Find the Global Menu
Log in to Canvas. Look all the way to the far left edge of your screen at the dark navigation bar.
Click on your profile avatar labeled "Account" at the top of the bar.
Screenshot Cue:
Notice the orange circle highlighting the Account icon in the screenshot.
Canvas • Global Navigation
PDF Screenshot #1
STS
Account
Dashboard
Courses
Calendar
Dashboard Card View
High School Students
Beginner Theatre
Click the circled Account icon on the left!
Clicking Account opens your slideout user tray menu.
Step 2 of 7
Click "Portfolio" in the Account Tray
Menu Selection
Slideout Panel
Locate the Portfolio Option
When you click Account, a white menu slides out from the left edge of your screen.
Scroll past Notifications, Files, and Settings until you see "Portfolio". Click it.
Screenshot Cue:
The orange highlight circle pinpoints "Portfolio" in the menu list.
Canvas • Account Drawer
PDF Screenshot #2
Account Menu Logout
Notifications
Files
Settings
My Badges
Portfolio
QR for Mobile Login
Global Announcements
Accessibility Settings
Direct Route
Takes you straight to the Showcase Portfolios manager.
Click "Portfolio" to navigate into your portfolio workspace.
Step 3 of 7
Click "+ Create Showcase Portfolio"
Initialization
Create New
On the Portfolios Dashboard
You will land on the Portfolios main screen. Look across to the top right area.
Click the solid blue button labeled + Create showcase portfolio.
Screenshot Cue:
Look for the orange ring encircling the blue "+ Create showcase portfolio" button.
Canvas • Portfolios Home
PDF Screenshot #3
Portfolios
Showcase your own, and view those assigned to you.
Create showcase portfolio
Assigned Showcase
No portfolios created yet
Click the blue button above to generate your first showcase portfolio!
Clicking this opens your fresh portfolio template.
Steps 4 & 5 of 7
Title & Add Cover Image
Branding
4 Portfolio Title
Click into the top title field and type exactly:
College and Career Portfolio
5 Add Cover Image
Click + Add cover image on the right to upload a Canva name banner, graphic, or student photo.
Both can be updated anytime during high school!
Canvas • Portfolio Header Setup
PDF Screenshot #4
Portfolio Name:
College and Career Portfolio Exact Title
Cover image
Recommended size: 1200 x 300px
Add cover image
Banner images give your portfolio an immediate professional look.
Next: Writing your introductory bio description.
Step 6 of 7
Add Your Description (Student Bio)
Student Bio
Rich Text Editor
Introduce Yourself
Under your cover image, click inside the Description text box to write 2–3 sentences:
-
Who you are & current grade (9th)
-
Favorite subjects & extracurriculars
-
Future goals or dream careers
Orange circle highlights the Description field header.
Canvas • Rich Content Editor
PDF Screenshot #5
Description *
Rich Text Box
Edit View Insert Format Tools Table
12pt | B I U |
"Welcome to my high school portfolio! I am a freshman at STS exploring biomedical science and creative writing..."
You can format headings, bullet points, and links anytime.
Next: Connecting your coursework in the Evidence section.
Step 7 of 7
Organizing the "Evidence" Section
Coursework
3 Key Controls
+ Add evidence:
Pull essays, lab reports, and assignments directly from Canvas courses.
+ Add section:
Create categorized tabs (e.g., ELA, STEM, Arts, Leadership).
✎ Manage sections:
Reorder tabs or edit category headings as you grow.
Evidence is what makes your portfolio valuable!
Canvas • Evidence Manager
PDF Screenshot #6
Evidence *
Add evidence
Add section
Manage
No evidence added
Tags ⓘ
No tags added
All 7 steps from the stepper guide are complete!
Ready to Build
Today's Setup Mission Checklist
Action Time
Complete These 7 Steps Now
1
Click Account in left Canvas navigation
2
Click Portfolio in the slideout menu
3
Click + Create showcase portfolio
4
Name it: College and Career Portfolio
5
Click + Add cover image for your banner
6
Write your 2–3 sentence Description bio
7
Add sections & link your first course Evidence
Need a Hand?
Ask an elbow partner or raise your hand if your Canvas screen looks different!
Autosave Enabled
Canvas saves your work automatically as you build!
Open Canvas in your browser now and begin with Step 1!