Instructor Workshops for Teaching Spanish in the 21st Century

Pedagogical Materials as Agents of Change

March 25, 2:00-2:40 PM EST

Gillian Lord (University of Florida)

The landscape of higher education is changing rapidly, as is the role of language teaching and learning. This conversation focuses on the need to create materials that are based on theory and that also meet the needs and interests of today’s students. Student outcomes from learners will be provided in order to show that this transformed approach benefits both students and instructors.

Implementing Change: Three Case Studies

March 31, 2:00-2:40 PM EST

Julie Nelson (Auburn University), Roberto Jimenez (University of South Florida), Stefan DuBois (University of Denver)

Change is hard, but the reward outweighs the risk. What are you waiting for? Join faculty from around the country for a panel discussion by three language program directors from distinct contexts who are transforming their programs with the help of Contraseña. They´ll share their experience implementing change in their respective Introductory and Intermediate Spanish programs, highlighting their challenges and results.

Report from the Trenches: Instructor and GTA Perspectives

April 5, 2:00-2:40 PM EST

Ashley Anneken (University of Cincinnati), other panelists have been invited

In our series, we have discussed changing materials and the benefits of doing so at a programmatic level. In this conversation, we shift our focus to the day-to-day experience as viewed by instructors and graduate teaching instructors. Join instructors and graduate teaching assistants as they describe their experiences with Contraseña and highlight both instructor and student perspectives on implementation.

Small Changes, Big Results

April 13, 2:00-2:40 PM EST

Amy Rossomondo (University of Kansas)

While the paperless classroom has been here for some time, the COVID Crisis of 2020 pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished in a digital environment. Join a conversation on the lessons learned two years later from adapting to digital classrooms, including examples of explicit 21st Century Skill Development and alternative assessment.

Assessing Students in the 21st Century

Say goodbye to mechanical drill exams and allow your students to shine! In Contraseña, students are assessed through motivating, personalized, and engaging projects that allow them to showcase their language skills, and subsequently reflect on their learning. Learn more about the benefits, both linguistically and psychologically, of this unique form of assessment with more realistic—and less anxiety-inducing—grading expectations.

Promoting 21st Century Media and Technology Literacy

While the paperless classroom has been here for some time, the COVID Crisis of 2020 pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished in a digital environment. Check out the conversation on the lessons learned from adapting to digital classrooms, including examples of how Contraseña promotes key media and technological literacy.

Project-based Learning for 21st Century Students

Are we prepared to meet the needs of 21st century students with materials that foster communication, share inclusive perspectives, and are accessible and affordable? These are the goals of Contraseña, a new digital Introductory and Intermediate Spanish program from LingroLearning, and this workshop provides an introduction to the program’s ground-breaking use of project-based learning and backwards design.

Promoting 21st Century Critical Thinking and Information Literacy through Authentic Materials

How can instructors prepare beginning students to engage with the Spanish language in realistic, authentic ways? This conversation will focus on how text-driven language learning and task-based instruction can prepare students to engage in higher level authentic materials, which in turn promotes critical thinking and information literacy. Samples from Contraseña will be shared.