In this online institute you will identify characteristics of a meaningful and relevant curriculum at the post-secondary level based on the principles of proficiency. Using Backward Design, set priorities for a sequence of courses. Evaluate essential course content and learning outcomes. Create context for purposeful and cognitively engaging units that advance learner proficiency. Assess learners for what they can do in each of the communicative modes. Join veteran educator, Charlotte Gifford (Greenfield Community College, MA) and other educators for three days to acquire, process and apply new learning in small group discussions. You can’t do it all and there is never enough time. This summer, explore effective practices and start the school year more energized and ready to embed practices that keep the focus on the post-secondary learner.

Charlotte Gifford teaches French and Spanish at Greenfield (MA) Community College. As department chair of World Languages, she has worked extensively at GCC in curriculum and course (re)design, as well as student learning outcomes assessment. She presents regularly at state, regional and national language conferences. She is a Past President of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association and a Past Chair of the Northeast Conference on Teaching of Foreign Languages. NECTFL awarded her the Nelson Brooks Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2015.