STARTALK Principles in Curriculum Design and Implementation: Best Practices
Mar 29, 2015
STARTALK Principles in Curriculum Design and Implementation:
Best Practices
Infrastructure for 2007
34 programs in 21 states and DC
Major Lessons Learned: 2007
Both Student and Teacher Programs need
– More guidance in planning and implementation
– More effective teacher training and monitoring
– More guidance on integrating culture into their curricula
– Better ways to measure program outcomes
Advisory Board Recommendations
Develop and provide–Curriculum frameworks–Common assessment tools
STARTALK Program Design Principles
–Backward design–Standards-based –Thematic units
Infrastructure for 2008
81 Programs in 32 States and DC
Feedback
2008– 74% found them useful– Limited Creativity and Flexibility– Unsuited to some program models
2009– 90% acceptance rate– Request for tailored templates
STARTALK: Focus on Best Practices
A. Backward Design
B. Standards-based Curriculum
C. Instruction
Stages of Backward Design:
1. Identify desired results
2. Determine acceptable evidence of learning
Then and only then-
3. Plan learning experiences & instruction
Curriculum and Backward Design
PurposesPurposes
What students should know
What students should know What
students should be able to do
What students should be able to do
What would it
look like?
Curriculum: From Standards to the Classroom
StandardsStandards Curriculum
Frameworkor
Blueprint
CurriculumFramework
or Blueprint
CurriculumOutcomes
Assessments
CurriculumOutcomes
Assessments
UnitsUnitsDailyLesson Plans
DailyLesson Plans
STARTALK Curriculum Template: Major Elements
• Program Theme and Subthemes• Standards Targeted and Expected
Outcomes• Specific Knowledge and Skills• End of Program Performance Tasks• Other Assessment and Evidence of
Learning• Instructional Strategies• Materials and Resources• Technology
1. Identify Desired ResultsChoose a Program Theme and Unit Themes
Establish Goals for the Program from the National Standards
Identify Can-Do’s for each unit of your program
Identify Content Knowledge and Skills that align with your theme
Some examples of themes
• Ready to Travel• A Healthy Lifestyle• Getting Acquainted• Global Citizenship• Consumerism
Some Examples of Sub-Themes
A Healthy Lifestyle, • Choosing Healthy Foods• Sports and Activities
Ready to Travel • Getting around
town• Meeting people
What is evidence of student learning?
Designing Assessments
• listen with visuals • fill in graphs, charts, forms, graphic organizers, venn diagrams• follow a route on a map • check-off items in a list • draw what is described• put sentences in correct order
• listen for the gist—identify main idea• guess meaning from context• identify/categorize/classify thematic vocabulary• identify/categorize/classify authentic material• create questions from info in the piece
• identify specific information found in the piece• compose a title or headline• paraphrase in native language/target language• brainstorm and categorize synonyms
Sample Interpretive tasks
Interpersonal Mode
• Interpersonal mode tasks are two-way, spontaneous exchanges that involve negotiation of meaning between people.
• These tasks are unrehearsed, unrefined, non-scripted.
• May be based on information acquired in the interpretive mode.
Memorized material such as a skit is NOT an interpersonal mode task.
• Making a purchase• Meeting and Greeting• Ordering in a restaurant• Asking directions• Face to face or telephone conversations• Talking about friends and family• Discussing events of the day• Making plans• Negotiating who does what, gets what, with who, how, and where
Sample Interpersonal Personal Tasks
Presentational Tasks
Presentational mode tasks allow learners time to rehearse, revise, rewrite, consult sources, or otherwise prepare ahead of time.
These tasks require learners to use the language for a real world purpose other than display for the teacher or classroom.
Presentational mode tasks allow learners to use language in new and different contexts.
Sample Presentational tasks• Brochure or Itinerary• Letter• Web pages (Facebook/myspace page)• Video or Podcasts• Advertisement• Agenda, Schedule or Plan of the day, week• New beginning or ending of story, song• Demonstration • TV or Radio spot• Design a survey and present findings• Public Service Announcement or Infomercial• Essays, Plays • Poem, Song, Rap• PhotoStory, VoiceThread
Sample Presentational tasks• Brochure or Itinerary• Letter• Web pages (Facebook/myspace page)• Video or Podcasts• Advertisement• Agenda, Schedule or Plan of the day, week• New beginning or ending of story, song• Demonstration • TV or Radio spot• Design a survey and present findings• Public Service Announcement or Infomercial• Essays, Plays • Poem, Song, Rap• PhotoStory, VoiceThread
Curriculum Template: Major Elements
• Program Theme and Subthemes• Standards Targeted and Expected
Outcomes• Specific Knowledge and Skills• End of Program Performance Tasks• Other Assessment and Evidence of
Learning
• Instructional Strategies• Materials and Resources• Technology
Best Practices in Instruction1. Use of target
language
2. Student centered learning
3. Meaningful interaction
4. Integration of language, culture, and content
5. Differentiation
Examples?
REFLECTIONS
• Reflections from STARTALK Project Directors
• Your reflections: questions, thoughts …