preparing students for college: the essential role of performance tasks

Organizing the Academic Program to Prepare Students for Post Secondary Learning

We all want to see our students graduate from high school …

We all want to see our students graduate from high school …

But what happens after graduation?

For every 8 who make it to college … 3 will never finish.

But what happens after graduation?

For every 8 who make it to college … 5 will need remedial

classes.

But what happens after graduation?

How do we improve the odds?

For every graduate who makes it to college, in their 1st year, they will be asked to…

• Write 90-100 polished pages• Read 5000 pages• Complete 6-8 Final Exams• Write 30 problem sets• Complete 10 labs• Undertake 4 research papers• Write 12 Argument Essays & Position Papers

to ensure that 100% of our graduates will have the skills necessary to earn

their college degrees?

How do we improve the

odds

• We assign work similar to the work students will see in college.

• We build stamina by gradually increasing the load. • We support competency by providing multiple opportunities

to practice Common Core aligned college prep tasks.

How do we improve the

odds?

Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities

How can we support teachers in preparing

students for this work?

Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities

Part 1: Modularized & Scaffolded Performance

Task Guides

The Performance Tasks are Designed to address

complexity, in 2 ways

1. The Formative Tasks

Tasks are modular, intentionally repetitive,

and adaptable.

2. Each Formative Task supports teachers with strategically

selected activities to support a skills-oriented approach to the

tasks.

Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities

Part 2: A Performance Task Map

The typical work load for freshman year of

college

Part 1: A Map of Authentic College Prep. Performances

A sample year-by-year progression of performance

tasks for a student’s high school career.

If they will write 90-100 pages in the freshman

year of college, what do they need to write in the freshman year of HS?

If they will read 5000 pages in the freshman year of college,

how many pages will they need to read in 9th grade?

If they will perform 72 times as freshman in college, how many times should they

perform as freshman in high school?

Who should introduce students to these

performances? When? How? Who should follow

up on providing opportunities to practice?

Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities

Part 3: A Performance Task Pacing Calendar

Example of 20 Weeks of Social Studies.

A Performance Task Pacing Calendar

Example Map of all 4 Core Academic Courses.

A Performance Task Pacing Calendar