The Challenges of Assessing Cultural Competency in the World Languages

Posted on 2017-01-16 by S. Perez Castillejo, Ph.D. by S. Perez Castillejo, Ph.D.

We all know the importance of the 4 big skills in a world language class: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Encouraging the development of each one in our students brings with it a unique set of challenges, approaches, and assessment methods. (And, given our classroom time constraints, we probably also know how hard it can be[…]

Extempore, Backwards Design, and Exit Outcomes for Students

Posted on 2017-01-07 by S. Perez Castillejo, Ph.D. by S. Perez Castillejo, Ph.D.

If you’re an educator these days, you’ve likely come across backwards design. As the name indicates, it’s a method of curricular design in which the instructor starts by establishing desired results for a particular chapter, unit, course, or sequence. Then he or she works backwards to identify evidence of learning and put into place various instructional practices (i.e. activities, assignments, projects,[…]