“A performance task is any learning activity or assessment that asks students to perform to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and understanding. Performance tasks yield a tangible product and/or performance that serve as evidence of learning.” (Jay McTighe)
True learning occurs when students are able to transfer the knowledge and skills they have acquired through learning and apply them to authentic tasks.
Learning tasks should be challenging, align to grade level standards, and provide students with an opportunity to show transfer of their learning to new situations.
When designing tasks, consider the Rigor and Relevance Framework, which supports the two dimensions of higher standards and student achievement. It is beneficial in designing instruction and assessment as well as in selecting instructional strategies for differentiating instruction. Read this overview of the Rigor and Relevance Framework. You ay also review these slides.
For more information, read about Brain Research and Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
See this teacher planning tool for steps to task design
K-12 Math Tasks from Illustrative Mathematics
K-12 math tasks can be found by grade level or standard/domain.
Inside Mathematics Performance Assessment Tasks Grade level formative performance assessment tasks with accompanying scoring rubrics and discussion of student work samples for grades 2 through Algebra II, aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
Mathematics Assessment Project Middle and High School Tasks
A collection of summative tasks divided into three classes - Novice, Apprentice and Expert. The classes indicate the extent to which they require students to autonomously apply their mathematical knowledge: Novice tasks explicitly test particular items of content knowledge, Expert tasks are far less structured and require strategic problem-solving skills in addition to content knowledge.
Each task includes a scoring rubric, a set of pre-scored sample student work, and the same set of work without the scores (can be used as a professional learning opportunity).
Coming soon: Defined Stem! The state department is providing this resource at no cost to districts.
Visit the Tier 1 Strategies to explore ways to support each and every student in meeting expectations!