What Does a Defense of Learning Look Like?
School Administrator, May 2021

A kindergarten pupil leads a parent conference at a school in Kansas City, Kan. PHOTO BY THAI CHU, COURTESY OF ALIVE BY SHOOTING PHOTOGRAPHY

The best way to understand the power of the portfolio defense concept is to witness one live. In the meantime, here are a few videos that offer helpful glimpses into the practice.

»Building the Backpack. A Jefferson County, Ky., 5th-grade student defends his learning during the pandemic.

»A Kindergartner’s Student-Led Conference. Kindergartner Trinity shares her academic progress, supported by evidence from her portfolio. From EL Education.

»A Portfolio-Defense Montage. Short clips of different defenses from one year at Envision Schools. A good primer.

»Yvonne – A Deeper Learner. A Teaching Channel video that follows one student’s journey through the process.

— JUSTIN WELLS