Many courses and programs at Capilano University include student portfolios as part of their curriculum. But what is it that makes a portfolio such a powerful tool for teaching and learning?  

What is Folio Thinking?

Folio thinking refers to the intentional, structured use of portfolios to encourage deeper learning and self-reflection. Folio thinking is more than a buzzword; it’s a strategic, evidence-backed approach that transforms portfolios from static repositories into powerful tools for reflective learning. It’s a mindset that benefits not only students but also faculty, helping both groups connect the dots between their achievements, goals, and the knowledge they’re building along the way. 

Folio thinking is more than gathering artifacts in an online portfolio. It’s a reflective process, asking students to actively engage with their academic, personal, and professional development. Students document their work and think critically about the significance and relevance of each piece, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving narrative of learning.

For faculty, adopting folio thinking as part of teaching practice can foster a culture of intentional, reflective learning that aligns with key educational outcomes like critical thinking, adaptability, and self-directed learning. It can also help with your own professional growth. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, you’ve already been doing some folio thinking.

Research Evidence

Research has shown that folio thinking can boost engagement, enhance metacognitive skills, and improve students’ academic performance (Eynon, Gambino, & Török, 2014). By guiding students through the reflective practice of portfolio building, faculty help them cultivate skills that go beyond course objectives, encouraging the development of lifelong learning habits. Faculty also benefit, as folio thinking enables them to see how their students’ work connects across different contexts, helping them align their teaching with outcomes that truly impact students’ long-term goals. A 2015 study by Buyarski and Landis reveals that portfolios contribute to students’ ability to articulate skills and reflect on experiences—skills that are increasingly important in a quickly changing world.

Next Steps

Interested in learning more about how to use Portfolios in your own teaching and learning? Check out these resources and reach out to the Centre for Teaching Excellence to meet with an Educational Developer.

And be sure to save the date for the first Annual CapU Symposium on ePortfolios, a half day event to celebrate the last decade of ePortfolios at CapU and look ahead to the next decade: May 2, 2025. Stay tuned for more details!

Ready to do a deeper dive? Here is some additional reading about folio thinking available from the CapU Library:

‪High impact ePortfolio practice : a catalyst for student, faculty, and institutional learning / Bret Eynon and Laura M. Gambino ; foreword by George Kuh.‬‎ – ‪Record details‬‎ – ‪EBSCO Discovery Service‬‎