Voices of Growth: Empowering ESOL Students Through Digital Portfolios in Canva

Outline

Content & Engagement:
We will share how our collaborative team used Canva to help multilingual learners document and reflect on their English-language growth through digital portfolios. Our display will feature visuals of student portfolios, reflection prompts, and teacher-created templates. Attendees can explore examples, scan QR codes for editable resources, and discuss practical ways to integrate this approach into their own classrooms.

Process for Engagement:
We’ll engage attendees through visuals, looping slides, and interactive QR codes linking to Canva templates and reflection examples. Visitors can browse resources at their own pace, view student samples, and talk with us about classroom applications. We’ll encourage open dialogue, idea-sharing, and collaboration. Attendees will leave with a digital handout of templates, reflection ideas, and strategies ready for immediate use.

Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to:

Explore how Canva can be used to create digital portfolios that highlight multilingual learners’ growth.

Identify strategies and templates that support student reflection and voice.

Gain ideas for collaborating across roles to integrate technology into language instruction.

Supporting research

Digital Portfolios: Authentic Assessment for 21st Century Learning
Barrett, H. (2022). Electronic Portfolios for Learning.
https://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios.html

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). (2021). Effective Practices for Teaching English Learners.
https://www.cal.org/areas-of-impact/english-learners/

Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (2013). Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. Routledge.
https://www.routledge.com/Reflection-Turning-Experience-into-Learning/Boud-Keogh-Walker/p/book/9781138006118

Effective Practices for Teaching English Learners
Center for Applied Linguistics. (2021).
https://www.cal.org/areas-of-impact/english-learners/

How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms
Tomlinson, C. A. (2017). ASCD.
https://www.ascd.org/books/how-to-differentiate-instruction-in-academically-diverse-classrooms

Learning First, Technology Second
Kolb, L. (2020). ISTE Press.
https://www.iste.org/resources/product?ID=4155&title=Learning-First%2C-Technology-Second%2C-Edition-2