Activating Communication:Focusing Lenses
How can we use focusing lenses to guide thinking when creating instruction? How can an old unit "going to a café" be changed to a thematic unit on food and hunger that focuses on performance tasks integrated to create a meaningful cultural context? How can images, videos and other technology encourage learners to critically think of solutions to real-world global issues on
environment in innovative ways? We will explore these questions through the lenses of an UbD designed thematic units and the concepts of the ACTFL 21st Century Skills Map.
If you think you have to have everything planned before the first day of school, you really have a daunting project ahead of you. Here are the steps I actually take when I write and rewrite curriculum maps and guides (which I have done every summer for at least one subject - always tinkering!).