Performance Assessment Task Development

Steps in Performance Task Design

The following materials identify the key elements of effective performance assessment tasks, describe the task development process, and present a set of design templates corresponding to each of the elements. While we refer to these as "steps," they should not necessarily be addressed sequentially. Rather than considering the "steps" to be a required, linear process, simply keep in mind that a well-constructed, comprehensive assessment task will have addressed each of elements raised in the prescribed design process.

We have available in this section reflective questions and considerations to ask as you construct performance tasks. These questions guide your thought process during the development stage.We've also provided you with several blueprints for constructing performance tasks in this section.

Many of the ideas for this document come from a publication developed by the Maryland Assessment Consortium entitled, "Developing Performance Assessment Tasks."

Steps in the Design Process

Step 1 - Identify Standard(s), Components, and Indicators
Step 2 - Create a Meaningful Context for the Task
Step 3 - Identify Thinking Skills/Processes to Build into the Task
Step 4 - Identify the Products and/or Performance
Step 5 - Identify Criteria for Evaluating Performance
Step 6 - Generate Exemplary Responses
Step 7 - Construct Scoring Tools
Step 8 - Try out the Task
Revise Where Necessary