Task-Based Activity Design Template

[Title of Activity]

Name: [Insert your name]

Language: [of instruction for this activity] Level: [of instruction for this activity]
Note that these two identifiers are provided as a means to contextualize the activity, not
to limit it. The nature of task-based lesson design is that with adjustments for cultural
differences, the target language can often be interchanged, and level can be adjusted
through adjustments to the expectations of the task.

Student's task: [Describes what task the student is expected to pursue in this activity
(i.e., telling a story; shopping for furnishings for an apartment; accepting or declining
an invitation to an event; recommending a movie; planning a trip etc.).]
As you develop the task concept, ask yourself why would a student be interested in
doing this task? What real-world activity does it parallel? How does the work the
student does in pursuit of this task interact with other students and the world around
versus being something that the student prepares for the teacher to grade?

Instructional objectives: [Describes the skills & objectives (i.e., the grammar,
vocabulary, culture elements) that underlie this activity.]
Keep in mind that the instructional objectives (i.e. applying the past tense) are implicitly
designed into the task (such as tell a story about a trip that you took with your family—
real or imagined—in a manner that will entertain your classmates and garner the most
votes in the story-telling challenge) rather than explicitly addressed as the goal of the
task (“You will practice the past tense by writing a story about a trip you took and turn
that composition into me.”).

Electronic resources: [Lists the electronic resources (web sites, video, social networks,
etc.) that will (or might) be used in this activity.]
By providing URLs, titles and brief annotations, other (instructor) readers will
understand the role of each of these resources.

Lesson plan: [Describes how the students will proceed through the activity.]
What are the steps involved in this lesson?

Student materials and preparation: [Provides any instruction sheets, worksheets,

evaluation forms, etc. necessary for this activity.]
Assessment: [Describes how the instructor will assess student's work.]
Rubrics are ideal assessment tools for task-based activities. See 4Teachers.org’s rubric-
generating Rubistar site at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php .

Technical preparation: [Details what the teacher needs to familiarize her- or himself
with in terms of technologies prior to bringing students in as a group.]

Time: [Indicates how much time and/or how many class periods are required to
complete this activity.]

Variations: [Notes possible variations you considered as you developed this activity, or
suggested by others in the workshop.]