19/07/2026
I had the privilege of facilitating a live demonstration on Designing Authentic Assessment and using Microsoft Sway as a digital portfolio to document and showcase learner growth. The session introduced educators to the design of authentic assessment experiences and to the use of digital portfolios to capture evidence of competency development, rather than relying solely on traditional tests.
What made this session different was that I didn’t simply present a finished product—I thought aloud.
Participants observed the invisible work that goes on inside a teacher’s mind as authentic assessment is designed. Together, we unpacked questions such as:
* What evidence am I looking for?
* How will learners demonstrate that evidence?
* What experiences will generate meaningful learning?
* How will I provide feedback that moves learning forward?
* How can learners reflect on their own growth?
I then shifted perspectives, demonstrating the process both as the teacher designing learning experiences and as the learner building an e-portfolio. Educators experienced how evidence is collected, documented, reflected on, and used to demonstrate growth over time, thereby transforming assessment into an integral part of the learning journey rather than a one-off event.
Professional learning is most powerful when we make our practice visible. Sometimes the greatest learning happens not by telling people what to do, but by showing them how we think as we make professional decisions.
Show and tell remains one of the most powerful models of continuous professional learning. It gives educators a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes—to observe the reasoning, judgement, creativity, and intentionality that underpin effective teaching.
When we open our practice to others, we don’t just teach strategies; we model professional thinking.
