1. Using Canvas to Build
a Research Portfolio
Vanessa Calkins
UCF

2. Weebly Canvas
 Easy to use (like Blogger)
 Students can quickly learn the
interface (intuitive)
 Costly
 Students can have access to
portfolio for as long as teacher
keeps account open
 Can be made public or private
 Not a lot of customizations
options
 Easy to use
 Students are familiar with
interface
 No additional cost to anyone
 Students can have access to
portfolio for entire time at UCF
 Can be made public or private
 Not a lot of customization
options

3. Reasons to choose an eportfolio?
 Should vary with course, objectives, outcomes, students, etc.
• Cut down on paper waste
• Get students to keep their portfolios (or at least, remove you from
having to keep them)
• Save students money
• Save students time
• Compliment your digital grading shift
• Teach & assess digital portfolio keeping
• Showcase multimodal work

4. Why this semester?
 Graded everything in Canvas this semester (1102)
 Canvas auto-saves all drafts
 Students can bring any of their their assignments into portfolio with a
few clicks
 Portfolio allows for little customization, but that isn’t my focus
 Graded their smaller (“Research Journal”) assignments online, as well as
had them upload workshop drafts for credit; it would be counter-
productive to have them print assignments for the first time at the end
of the course
 *Should* help students show me their ethnographic research process

5. Research Portfolio Assignment
 Show revision:
three process drafts of ethnography (vs. all)
 Show research process:
proposal, annotated bib, journal entries, in-class
reflections, fieldnotes, maps of fieldsite, written
sketches of informants and site, interview
transcripts, and archives (texts and images
collected in the field)

6. Research Portfolio Assignment
 Show reflection connect to outcomes:
Cover letter discussing writing and research
 Show presentation to class audience:
60-second video option for final presentation can be
easily linked/uploaded
 Show rationale in choice of arrangement:
Annotated table of contents (idea taken from
Fieldworking)

7. Questions about ePortfolios?
 How would you choose to show revision?
 What are ways you can assign an ePortfolio while
still accepting paper assignment?
 Are some courses better suited to ePortfolios than
others?