Portrait of a Learner

The Portrait of a Learner is the Guiding “Norris” Star that captures the mindsets, skills,  and dispositions that represent the practices of successful  learners who are equipped to navigate an unpredictable future. As our world evolves our personal and professional practices must reflect and include opportunities to ignite our passions and take ownership of our work; take initiative to serve and influence others in positive ways; build inclusive relationships in order to effectively communicate and collaborate; and offer solutions to creatively solve problems of practice and inquiry. The Portrait of a Learner makes visible these practices for learners of all ages and provides unity throughout the Norris learning ecosystem.

Portrait of a Learner Infographic

Portrait of a Learner PDF

Core Competencies

The Norris Profile of a Learner identifies four core competencies Learner Agency, Dynamic Leader, Socially Embedded, and Solution Seeker as essential for all learners regardless of age and role.  Everyone is a learner! 

Learner Agency Icon

Learner Agency is the capacity to take ownership and responsibility of one’s learning by harnessing intrinsic motivation to initiate, manage, maintain and pursue one’s goal through learning.

  • Self Aware

  • Growth Mindset

  • Mindful Goal Setting

  • Self Advocacy

Dynamic Leadership icon

Dynamic Leadership is the ability to act with integrity, use imagination, be creative, and feel confident to initiate actions that influence the community’s desired outcome, as well as motivate, encourage, and nurture others.

  • Initiative

  • Service Orientation

  • Community Advocacy

  • Integrity

Dynamic Leadership Icon

Socially Embedded is the learner’s engagement in sustained relationships within a network of stable social connections that offer acceptance, friendships, support, and guidance.

  • Socially Aware

  • Skillful Collaborator

  • Effective Communicator

  • Inclusive Relationship Builder

Solution Seeking Icon

Solution Seeking is the ability to use one’s own curiosity to respond to questions and challenges by asking questions, taking-risks, using creativity, and reflecting on and revising solutions as they creatively solve problems.

  • Curious

  • Resilient

  • Adaptive

  • Innovative Design Thinker

These outcomes come to bear through the development of the “Norris Practices”.  These practices highlight the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of learners who have Learner Agency, are Dynamic Leaders, Socially Embedded, and Solution Seekers.  

Norris Practices

Each core competency encapsulates four distinct learning goals. When realized, the goals contribute to the learner’s competency. Learning goals articulate the practices that learners needs in order to successfully thrive now and into the future.

Each learning goal is made accessible to learners as an "I can" statement. The “I can” statement provides an opportunity for learners to reflect and visualize a skill or habit of mind that might serve as a road map to achieve that goal.  “I can” statements are followed by a desired outcome that might serve as a measure of success.

Learner Agency

Norris will empower learners to have high levels of agency, to participate intentionally in their learning, to seek meaning and to act with purpose to achieve the outcomes they desire. Learners who have high levels of agency demonstrate:

Dynamic Leader

Norris will advocate for leaders at all levels who model integrity and take the initiative to serve and advocate for the betterment of their community. Learners who demonstrate dynamic leadership demonstrate:

Socially Embedded

Norris will cultivate learners to be socially embedded who use their self-awareness to build inclusive relationships and skillfully communicate and collaborate with others. Learners who are socially embedded are:

Solution Seeker

Norris will encourage learners to be curious and to think creatively as they take risks to solve problems. Learners who are solution seekers are:

Norris Practices and Outcomes