Design a performance task for your content area.  You may work alone or with a partner.  The steps are outlined below:

Step 1:  Decide which skills and learning targets you wish to assess as a result of the task.  The skills and knowledge should be of high value.  Ask yourself questions such as:

            A. What cognitive skills do I want my students to develop (e.g. ability to write effectively, ability to analyze issues using reference materials, ability to use algebra to solve a real world problem)

            B.  What social and affective skills do I want them to access (work independently, work in groups)

            C. What knowledge do I want them to apply ?

Step 2: Design a performance task that requires the students to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have noted.  The task should be interesting, challenging, and achievable.  Consider the following:

1. How much time will it take students to develop the task?  For our purposes here, let’s limit this timeline to no more than one week to complete.  Choose a relatively modest performance task that is likely to hold the students’ interest and is limited in scope.
2. Does the task have intrinsic value and does to represent a realistic goal for students, given your learning targets?

Step 3:  Develop a rubric for scoring the task that reflects the learning targets (knowledge and skills) that you wish to assess.

Your finished product should consist of three parts:

1.  Learning Targets (skills and knowledge)
2. The Performance Task
3. The Rubric