Thrasher Designs

Portfolio of Emma Thrasher

Thrasher’s Thoughts

  • Encouraging students to engage with the French language was not always an easy task. One of the ways I tried to break down the barriers between students and a sense of success was through a pedagogical tool I called Friday…

  • Designing for Accessibility: Applying WCAG Principles in a Google Form Project To deepen my understanding of accessible design, I was challenged to create a fully usable and inclusive Google Form that aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The…

  • Introduction  Throughout my studies for the past few weeks I have been reflecting on the place that technology has in our assessments. I wanted to share about two of my most recent creations, continuations of the “Yes, and…” experimentation I…

  • No pain, no gain I have come a long way from when I began my schooling career to where I stand today, nearing the completion of my master’s degree program. As I reflect on where I have come, it is…

  • Over the past two weeks, I have made an effort to bring more creativity into the way I approach the topic of assessment. One method I explored was a kind of improvisational “yes, and” approach to design derived from the…

  • I began studying French in middle school and arrived at university with seven years of experience. Although it had always been a challenging subject for me, I had a strong foundation and had spent limited time abroad. I felt confident…

  • At the broadest level, language learners are assessed on their ability to make meaning from input – through listening, reading, or viewing – and to be understood through their own communicative output. Learning targets for language learners include both concrete…

  • Assessment, at its core, is the interaction between a learner and their goals. It is a living process that allows the learner and facilitator to monitor progress, identify gaps in understanding, and create a space to celebrate growth. When thoughtfully…

  • For learners to engage effectively in language acquisition, it is essential that they feel safe enough to take risks. One key factor in fostering this sense of safety is Krashen’s (1982) affective filter hypothesis. The “affective filter” refers to emotional…

  • Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash If I had a dollar for everytime someone told me they took French in high school but can no longer speak the language, I could treat us all to a café and some pâtisseries…