DIDACTIC PLANNING

The course 'Instructional design for language education' is one of the main activities of the Master in Didattica delle lingue straniere (MADILS) where students can acquire knowledge and understanding in the field of Educational Linguistics/Language education with reference to second/foreign languages. The specific goal of the course is to develop knowledge and understanding in the field of Instructional design and promote the ability to design and develop programmes and curricula for language education as well as teaching/learning materials, learning units/lessons that take into account the variables characterizing a learning/teaching environment: type of target audience and needs, language learning goals and objectives, modes of delivery, underpinning theories of language learning/teaching approaches, educational contexts (formal/non-formal/informal), useful technologies.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will acquire knowledge and understanding in the field of Instructional Design (curriculum design, materials design, lesson design) and its role in the development, creation and delivery of language education programmes (foreign language/second language) according to diverse variables such as: target audience’s characteristics and needs, type of learning context (formal/non-formal/informal), of delivery modes (on site, on line, etc.), of contents, and technologies involved.

Applying knowledge and understanding
The student will learn how to analyse, design and develop proposals according to the variables mentioned above.

Making judgements
The student will know how to make informed and autonomous judgements as to the validity and feasibility of different curriculum/material/lesson proposals.

Communication skills
The student will be able to communicate clearly and unambiguously his/her reasoning, opinions and ideas, and show mastery of the specific language of the field.

A basic knowledge of the principles of language education and language teaching is useful.
Those without any previous basic knowledge in these fields can consult one of the following on-line self-learning courses:
- Course: Migliorare l’efficienza nell’apprendimento linguistico: https://www.itals.it/meal (in Italian)
- Course: Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/understanding-language (in English, only Week 1 and Week 2)

Language pre-requisites:
For non-Italian mother-tongue speakers competence in Italian preferably at B2 level; competence in English preferably at B1 level

Teaching approaches; curriculum models; syllabus: learning objectives, materials, assessment; learning units and lesson plans; ICT; modes of course delivery (e.g., flipped classroom); language learning activities and tasks.

Balboni, P. (2007), Operational Models for Language Education, Perugia, Guerra.
Council of Europe (2001), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment, https://rm.coe.int/1680459f97
Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment - Companion Volume, https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/home
Johnson, K. (2003), Designing Language Teaching Tasks, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
McGrath, I. (2016), Materials Evaluation and Design for Language Teaching, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press.

Further reading will be suggested during the course.

Written exam with two tasks, one aimed at assessing content knowledge and the ability to analyse some related issues, the other aimed at assessing the ability to apply them in practice.

Online synchronous and asynchronous lesson with forum activities.
The students will be required to participate actively in the forum activities forums so as to develop awareness of theories and practical issues implicated in Instructional design.

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development