Performance tasks (PTs) within the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) framework are designed to assess students' ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world problems. Here's a breakdown of the key elements of a great performance task:
Complexity and depth: PTs require students to engage in higher-order thinking, integrating multiple skills and knowledge areas. They often involve tasks like research, analysis, and synthesis
Real world context: Tasks are set in authentic scenarios, asking students to solve problems or create products that mirror real-life challenges
Extended response: Unlike traditional multiple-choice questions, PTs involve open-ended responses that allow students to demonstrate their reasoning and problem-solving processes
Scaffolding: Tasks include multiple parts, with initial questions building towards more complex tasks. This scaffolding helps guide students through the assessment
Assessment of multiple standards: PTs often align with several educational standards, assessing a range of skills from critical thinking to collaboration
Rubric-based evaluation: Responses are scored using detailed rubrics that measure various competencies, providing a comprehensive overview of student performance
To use the Performance Task Tool
Go to Tools > Performance Task > Generate
Enter the prompts required and upload supporting documentation if you’d like, then choose Generate
The performance task document will appear in a text editor. You can make changes: highlight text and apply new AI Tools or press the backslash (/) key on your keyboard to open the options menu
The document will save as you go. When you’re done, you can share it through a link, export it as a PDF, or export it to a Google Docs or Google Classroom
Remember, the performance tasks that SchoolAI generates should be used as a first draft. Reviewing and customizing what you’ve built is important to make sure it works for your class.
AI Tools
AI Tools
Highlight text in the document and choose AI Tools to edit the text using AI. You can change the tone, translate, simplify, and more.
Options menu
Options menu
When you’re editing a rubric, use the backslash key to open the options menu. You can generate AI text or images, charts, tables, bullets/numbers, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a performance task on SchoolAI?
How do I create a performance task on SchoolAI?
Go to Tools > Performance Task > Generate
Enter the prompts required and upload supporting documentation if you’d like, then choose Generate
The performance task will be generated in a text editor. You can make changes to the document: highlight text and apply new AI Tools or press the backslash (/) key on your keyboard to open the options menu
The document will save as you go. When you’re done, you can share it through a link, export it as a PDF, or export it to a Google Docs or Google Classroom
How do I find a performance task I’ve made?
How do I find a performance task I’ve made?
Letters of recommendation you’ve created can be found and edited by going to Tools > Performance Task > [Number] documents.
How do I share the performance task document with someone?
How do I share the performance task document with someone?
When the document is open in the text editor, choose Share to copy the link and send it to anybody (most teachers use email). The link leads to a version that can’t be edited by the recipient. You can also use the Export button to share through Google Docs or PDF.
Pro tip: You’ll need to make sure the document is closed on your end. Otherwise, the link won’t work.