30 Design Strategies and Tactics from 40 Years of Investigation
Appendix: Further information and examples
Task materials for ‘coursework’/portfolio assessment
‘Portfolio’ (US) or ‘coursework’ (UK) assessment is capable of higher validity than is possible in timed-written examination, being closer to real world problem-solving situations. It provides opportunities to introduce into the classroom rich mathematical activities. The close link to the assessment system provides motivation to devote time and effort to learning how to tackle such tasks.
In the 1980s the value of portfolio assessment was widely recognized. In some systems each student with their teacher was free to choose the task(s) but this presented problems – of richness and of comparability. Mandating each year a specific set of tasks from which to choose, particularly when the tasks have been trialled and their difficulty established, mitigates this problem.
Extended tasks for GCSE Mathematics
Link to materials
This was the product of a Shell Centre project developed for the age 16 high-stakes examination of a large examination board, the Midlands Examining Group (MEG). The 10 books contain sets of problems in four areas of mathematics, along with a teacher's guide and a guide for in=school do-it-yourself professional development activities. Rita Crust was the lead designer.
The following examples show the lead tasks from three of the books – as these are extended tasks it is worth checking the books, which can be downloaded from the linked website, to see the full extent of the teacher and student materials.
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Link to full materialsLinks to materials:
- Extended tasks for GCSE Mathematics
- https://www.mathshell.com/materials.php?item=&series=gcse