A step-by-step approach
to creating an assessment unit.
Step 1: Review the Standards
We recommend that teachers begin every unit by reading through the 5C’s
of the National Standards so the standards are clearly in mind as they
plan. To review the National Standards, you can go to the National
Standards module on the CoBaLTT web site, or review the summary
on the ACTFL web site.
 Step
2: Choose a Theme
Imagine that this unit is for an intermediate level class. The
topic is famous people. When I think of this topic in terms of
a “big idea”, a topic that will interest my teenage
students, I decide to focus on “famous”: “How
long does fame last?”
Step 3: Identify goals and objectives
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Name some famous people from the target cultures and the reason
for their fame.
- Give examples of different kinds of fame.
- Discuss the positive and negative aspects of being famous.
- Describe people who are famous.
Step 4: Develop a performance assessment
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Interpretive task: Read an article about
someone who is currently famous in the target culture. Summarize
the key facts about the person. Decide if the person will
be remembered in history and give reasons for your response.
Presentational task: Research a famous person
from the target culture. Role-play the person and introduce
yourself to the class, including why you are famous.
Interpersonal task: In small groups, discuss
what famous person you would like to meet and why.
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Write the rubrics for assessing each of the modes, or adapt a rubric
you have used before that worked well. To see types of rubrics,
see the Evaluation section.
Step 5: Identify structures and functions
In order to successfully complete the performance task, students
will need to review adjective agreement and placement, and comparisons.
They will also need to learn/review past tense.
Step 6: Identify vocabulary
Vocabulary for the theme “How long does fame last”
may include physical and personality descriptors for people and
professions.
Step 7: Choose instructional strategies
Focus on activities that will build a broad repertoire of descriptive
words.
You can download the Unit Plan
Inventory for use in creating an integrated performance assessment
unit.
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