The new MA English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (MAELPS) specify in detail what your learners need to achieve at each proficiency level. But how do you plan your instruction to align with these standards and to produce optimal learning? Using Backward Design, you first:  

1. determine what students should be able to do at the end of a unit or lesson, then
2. design assessments that provide evidence that they can do it, and finally,
3. create activities and tasks that lead to that learning

In this two-part, interactive workshop Betsy Parrish and Jayme Adelson Goldstein will guide you through the process of applying these concepts to your teaching. 

In Part I, you will explore how to establish essential questions for lessons and units, and how to translate those questions into clear, measurable learning objectives. You will then identify a variety of ways to assess learning on an ongoing basis and explore how to determine valid criteria for assessing learning outcomes. The presenters will use the MAELPS benchmarks to guide and support the process and to ensure that your lessons and units are standards-aligned. 

In Part II, you will dig into designing activities and tasks that match learning objectives, engage learners, and prompt deep and lasting understanding. You also will learn to plan your lessons and units with greater focus and efficiency.

The course components include:

• Two face to face sessions (6 hours each for a total of 12 hours)
• Application to your teaching practice (2 hours)

To receive credit, you must participate in both face-to-face sessions. Total PD hours: 12.

PDPs are available upon request if the following criteria are met:

• Participation in the two-face-to-face sessions
• A written lesson plan that adheres to the principles of Backward Design

For more information, contact Dori McCormack at dmccormack@qcc.mass.edu.