Making digital teaching accessible

5. How I set tasks for everyone 

Framework condition

• The task is relevant to the bigger picture: What knowledge and learning outcomes does it build on? How does it help in perspective? Is the task authentic?

Goal: Motivation

• The task and the learning process behind it pursue a clear goal: What should the students know/be able to do at the end?

Objective: To keep discipline processes transparent, motivation

• The task follows one (or more) methods: How should the students proceed?
• The task is worked on in a specific social form: How many staff, people should the students work with?
• The task is clearly limited in time: Which work steps should be carried out in which time frame?
• The task allows for various working and auxiliary materials: Which ones? Where can they be found?
• The task specifies the form(s) of documentation and possibly presentation: When and where will the documentation take place?
• The task shows how results are discussed and reflected upon: What form does feedback take? 
• The task contains clear assessment criteria (if required): Which results are assessed and how?

Formulation 

• The task uses clear, defined operators.

e.g.: Name, Describe, Analyse, Justify, Compare, Evaluate, Design...

• The task does not contain any unnecessarily complicated educational or foreign language words or confusing synonyms.

e.g. better: "Graphically illustrate how the three roles influence each other." instead of: "Graphically illustrate the interdependence of the three roles."

• The task has a simple syntax and a clear structure.
• The task is nevertheless demanding in terms of content and appropriately technical.
• Complex tasks are divided into several smaller tasks.
• Complex tasks contain detailed steps.

Contents

• The task is challenging and complex.
• The task enables a learning gain.
• The task calls for strategies.
• The task offers approval for everyone. 

Creating approval for all

The task takes into account different interests, learning types/styles, by being at a comparable level:

• Offers different contents/topics.
• Allows different approaches, e.g. in the social form or the presentation of results. 
• Social background, cultural background, gender aspects taken into account.
• Admission to the use of various (digital) media and tools.
• Allows different forms of the product/result, e.g. mind map, concept map, table, (flow) diagram, flow chart, scenic play, still image, email, blog, chat, Facebook entry and many more.
• flexibility in terms of time.

Sample task:

How I set tasks for everyone - sample tasks