Meeting 14 • 17 May 2012 • Thursday

Version:
5/22/12

People (√ = present; strikeout = absent; e+strikeout = excused absence): √Fischer; √Chapman; √Choate; √Couture; √Hinsinger; √Hunter; √Idrissi; √Looney; √Moore

Today

(X') = anticipated time in minutes (to total 100 minutes + 10-minute break)
(0001) etc.=item in document collection (will be explained in class)
Key to notes added AFTER the class meets:
√ = topic / activity that was adequately dealt with during the class
+ = topic was begun but needs more attention & will be resumed at next / subsequent meeting(s)
- = a topic / activity that was proposed but not carried out - will be taken up later
Struckthrough text like this = a topic / activity that was proposed but is not going to be taken up after all
Italic green text like this = comments after the meeting

Week 7: More about more projects; learner & teacher attitudes; examples of CBI; assessment; grants

new materials:

0702 (on disk) LinguaFolio

Handout includes articles about assessment: 0739 (not on disk), PSU FRINQ portfolio reading (p. 3, "Writing Rubric"); 2012W Humboldt SINQ assignment "Describe a Humboldt-Related Species" - assignment & scoring guide, work samples; 0931 (not on disk) Understanding University Success ("Second Languages," pp. 67-71 (pp. 41-3 of original book)

(05') Depending on mood of group: tests from hell - our own experiences instead: Elizabeth Moore reports about subbing for me on the IAC

(30') Discussion of projects - hope people have brought something to the table; if assessment comes up, but we have plenty else to discuss, we'll move the assessment part to the second hour

I haven't forgotten the request for videos of CBI in action.

(10') a college course that combines third-year German with hydraulic engineering (0712 on disk)

(10') Break: Go get your coffee or your snack.

-

(20+') this week's special topic, assessment: look at Humboldt SINQ assignment "Describe a Humboldt-Related Species" - assignment & scoring guide, work samples;; Understanding University Success (0931 not on disk, pp. 67-71, Second Languages)

Focus / Venting topic: student course evaluations.

-

(10) introducing the next special topic: portfolio development - see reading suggestions below, especially LinguaFolio (0712 on disk)

+

(10') The modest proposal for an immodest culminating event of a subversive nature: progress report about possible attendees. If time: What would we want to accomplish with our target audience? Came up early in the second hour and expanded to fill the available time

-

(5') If time: more about grants - COFLT Mini-grants; little/medium grants that might support the Humboldt Project


Upcoming class meeting(s) (#15 20 May 2012)

1) Continue Stryker/Leaver

2) Look at the work samples for projects from earlier years.

3) See "schedule" page for links to sources of lesson plans for various subject areas.

4) Proposed next major topic of general discussion: portfolio development; 0702 Linguafolio;

At meeting #8 the group expressed preference for these topics for further discussion, perhaps one a week (√=now done): √assessment; thematic units; √styles, strategies, & motivation; portfolio development. So that is what we will emphasize. There was some interest in the following areas, which will receive attention as time allows: the various content areas; literature; culture; changing the curriculum; business; grants.

5) Start reading about portfolio development: 0702 Linguafolio; 0248 (on disk) Padilla, "Development and Implementation of Student Portfolios in Foreign Language Programs";

Below here are notes for myself; read them at your peril!

grant info: ••PSU grants; ••small-/medium-scale external grants & a sample application; ••large-scale external grants & a sample application; ••conference ideas & sample proposals

••how to assess CBI activities (the projects; in general);

••Portland Public Schools "Recommendations for the Second Language Minimum Performance Standards" (#0010a)

••Drake

I think we need a discussion about what we (ourselves, our learners) want language teaching and learning to accomplish, so that we can examine the pros and cons of CBI (and other teaching methods or tools). Example: Some people prize language courses for what they contribute to the development of students' intellectual rigor (logic, clear thinking, understanding of system, rules, principles); such people may also say: "…especially Latin" or "…but of course they can get the same things from a stiff geometry course". To what extent is that view / goal compatible with CBI? What if the students' goal is to… [name several different goals]?

Upcoming assignment(s)

This section offers a PREVIEW, not activated assignments. Assignments are made, with announcement of their deadlines, both in class and on the "schedule" page.

Announcements

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Misc.

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