It may or may not result in reams of paper. That depends upon the student. Whenever possible, we like students to spend time working in a certain academic subject because they want to learn about it. You can structure your science education to include aeronautics if your interest is in model airplanes, or you can study the actions of baking powder and yeast if you are a baker. It doesn't necessarily mean that students will get by by doing the bare minimum, although that is certainly allowed.
Few students do it, however, at least in more than one subject.
The portfolios attest to marvelous things that students have done. Some write that they did something because they needed to earn the credit, but as they got further and further into it, it became fascinating to them. They could see how they could relate it to their major interest and they did. Learning is something that will go on for the rest of your life. How much you do right now will set the pattern for what you do later.