STEP FOUR -DEFINING THE STUDENT CULMINATING TASK
1  meeting
Introduction First, keep these criteria for a high quality unit in front of you:
Process 1.  The unit should be an investigation in which students gather, analyze, and present information.
Step One
Step Two 2.  All content areas must be strongly linked to the topic.
Step Three 3.  Students should use technology throughout the unit.  The student end product should be one which necessitates the use of technology.
Step Four
Step Five 4.  The unit should be of interest to students because of its relevance.
Step Six Second, discuss ideas for a culminating task or end product for students.  You will know an idea is a good one if it meets the criteria below.
Step Seven
Step Eight 1.  The task asks students to pull together concepts from all content areas to answer the unit focus question in some way.
2.  The task requires that students use technology to present the information they have gathered, organized, and analyzed.  Students should design, develop, publish, and present products using web pages, videotapes, and other multi-media tools to audiences inside and outside the classroom. Specific technology benchmarks should be addressed by the culminating task.
3.  The task is do-able within the context of your schedule and building resources.
4.  The task meets most or all of these Assessment  Standards:
a. Organization of Information- The task asks students to organize, synthesize, interpret, explain, or evaluate complete information in addressing a concept, problem or issue.
b. Consideration of Alternatives - The task asks students to consider alternative solutions, strategies, perspectives, or points of view in addressing a concept, problem or issue.
c.  Disciplinary Content - The task asks students to show understanding and/or use ideas, theories or perspectives considered central to an academic or professional discipline.
d. Disciplinary Process - The task asks students to use methods of inquiry, research, or communication characteristic of an academic or professional discipline.
e.  Elaborated Written Communication - The task asks students to elaborate on their understanding, explanations, or conclusions through extended writing.
f.   Problem Connected to the World Beyond the Classroom:  The task asks students to address a concept, problem or issue that is similar to one they have encountered or are likely to encounter in life beyond the classroom.
g.  Audience Beyond the School - The task asks students to communicate their knowledge, present a product or performance, or take some action for an audience beyond the teacher, classroom, and school building.
Some resources to help your thinking - if your thinking needs help:
As a team, consider the logistics for students to do the task.  As you discuss task ideas, you will need to think about:
  • Availability of computers - reserve them now!
  • Technical support - ask the district technology coordinator to hold trainings for the teachers and trainings for selected students on the equipment you will use.  These student experts will be an enormous help.
  • How to arrange students in groups, as groupwork is one of the best ways toget students communicating ideas.
  • Scheduling the work.  Make sure that the work is spread around.  If the end-product is a newspaper, for example, it is not the English teacher’s responsibility. Every team member has an equal share of the responsibility.
When the team has reached consensus about a culminating task, complete the Culminating Task Worksheet.   Team members should be clear in their agreement about this task.
This is the end of Step Four.
Save five minutes to find out about the NEXT  MEETING, during which you will write an assessment tool for the culminating task.
Reflect on a few more examples of culminating tasks.