Introducing the Marco DALE Digital Explorer

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By Samuel Aguirre and Lynn Shafer Willner

WIDA Launches Marco DALE Digital Explorer

WIDA is proud to announce the publication of the Marco DALE Digital Explorer! This unique resource looks to facilitate the ways in which educators put the Marco DALE into practice in their classrooms, schools and districts.

In 2023, in response to educators’ need for Spanish language development standards, WIDA launched the Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE). The Marco DALE is a standards framework that informs instruction, curriculum, professional development and assessments of Spanish language development. It is designed to work alongside existing content curriculum, learning structures and initiatives in schools. To ensure that educators have what they need to implement the Marco DALE, WIDA has been hard at work to develop additional resources including the new Marco DALE Digital Explorer. As educators engage with additional implementation tools, it is also important to return to the full-length publication of the Marco DALE to learn more about its Big Ideas and the components that make up this standards framework.

The Marco DALE Digital Explorer is a searchable database that allows educators to navigate the Marco DALE with ease. This resource categorizes the Marco DALE Language Expectations in two ways: by Standard Statement and grade-level cluster, and by Key Language Use and mode of communication. It also presents the Marco DALE Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLDs) by grade-level cluster and mode of communication.

One additional feature to highlight is that the Marco DALE Digital Explorer is interconnected to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition Digital Explorer. This means that educators will now be able to find Language Expectations for both the Marco DALE and the ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition at once! Furthermore, the design of the digital explorer on Satchel Commons allows for school districts to download the reference codes and machine-readable GUIDs to integrate both standards frameworks into local learning management systems to be incorporated into the district’s curriculum planning process.

In using the Marco DALE Digital Explorer, educators will find that they can quickly navigate to specific Language Functions and sample Language Features from the Marco DALE. For example, to search for Language Expectations by Standard Statement and grade-level cluster, select the Standard Statement that matches the focus of a unit or lesson (e.g., select  Estándar 3: El lenguaje para las matemáticas (DALE-MA) when teaching math content), then select a grade-level cluster, and finally, select the Language Expectation with the Key Language Use and the mode of communication that best match the unit or lesson. Educators will notice that the resulting pop-out box features the Language Functions, and, when available, sample Language Features of the Language Expectation they selected. Please note that not all Language Expectations have sample Language Features. This is by design and matches the original publication of the Marco DALE.

To search for Language Expectations by Key Language Use and mode of communication, educators will follow a similar process. First, select the Key Language Use that matches the unit or lesson (relatar, informar, explicar or argumentar). Then, select the mode of communication that best matches the focus of the unit or lesson (interpretativo, interactivo or expresivo). Finally, by selecting a Language Expectation, educators will see a pop-out box with the Language Functions and sample Language Features, when available.

The Marco DALE Digital Explorer also features the framework’s PLDs, which are organized by grade-level cluster and mode of communication. To navigate these, start by selecting one of two grade-level clusters available: K-1 or 2-12. For the interpretive and expressive modes, select criterios de los decriptores followed by the language dimension (el discurso, la oración, la palabra/frase). For the interactive mode, select aspectos, followed by the type of engagement. Each will produce specific PLDs to inform what bi/multilingual students can do with language across WIDA’s six levels of language development.

One additional way to engage with the Marco DALE Digital Explorer is to utilize the search feature at the top right of the page. When educators input key words of the academic content standards that they are planning to teach, the digital explorer will return the Marco DALE Language Expectations that best match the search. Educators can also set filters by grade level to obtain results specific to their needs.

The team at WIDA is excited for educators teaching Spanish to find meaningful uses and applications for the Marco DALE Digital Explorer. We also encourage educators to engage with the ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition Digital Explorer and to request that these digital explorers be integrated into their local learning management systems for increased interconnectivity with district and school level curriculum.

About the Authors

Samuel Aguirre is the former director of WIDA Español and current senior director of consortium and state relations at WIDA. Sam’s accomplishments at WIDA include the publication of the Marco DALE and Marco ALE to support educators teaching in Spanish language settings.

Lynn Shafer Willner designs digital tools, such as the two WIDA Digital Explorers, and was a developer of the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. She is a member of the WIDA Assessment Team.