Portrait of a Learner

A Portrait of a Learner should be more than words on a wall—it should shape the daily experiences of students and educators. By co-creating a shared vision with stakeholders, aligning performance tasks and classroom practices to Portrait competencies, and embedding its values into school culture, we can ensure the Portrait becomes a guiding force for meaningful learning.

Co-Creating Your Unique Portrait with Stakeholders

What are the skills and knowledge all learners need to thrive? 

A Portrait of a Learner becomes meaningful when it reflects the shared hopes and values of your entire learning community. We help schools and districts engage students, families, staff, and community members in thoughtful conversations to co-create a Portrait that reflects your local context, aspirations, and commitments — ensuring your vision for learning belongs to everyone.

Translating Portrait Competencies into Classroom Practices

How can your Portrait of a Learner shape what happens in classrooms every day?

A Portrait is only powerful if students experience it through their daily learning. We help educators unpack Portrait competencies, making them visible, actionable, and meaningful for both teaching and learning. Through practical tools and examples, we support teachers in designing learning experiences that help students develop and reflect on these competencies alongside academic content.

Designing Performance Tasks Aligned to Your Portrait

How can performance tasks help students demonstrate the competencies in your Portrait?

Authentic performance tasks are a natural bridge between your Portrait of a Learner and classroom practice. We help teams design performance tasks that invite students to apply knowledge while demonstrating Portrait competencies — like communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. This ensures performance assessments capture what you value most, not just what’s easiest to measure.

Embedding Portrait of a Learner into School Culture

How can your Portrait become part of your school’s daily language and culture?

From student showcases to feedback protocols, see how the Portrait can become a living part of your school identity.

Using the Portrait as a Lens for Curriculum and Instructional Decisions

Is your Portrait influencing curriculum and instructional decisions?

When the Portrait becomes a lens for instructional design, every learning experience becomes an opportunity to cultivate and assess the competencies you care about most. We help teams analyze curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment practices through the Portrait lens, supporting the shift from curriculum-centered design to learner-centered design.