By walking through this sample adaptation of a PALS task,
you can begin to see how you yourself can modify performance
assessment tasks. We start here with the actual standards
used in a task's development and move towards the creation
of specific targets or goals. These elements of a task design
can be found in the first part of a task's Administration
Procedures. Targets, which are not specified in the PALS library,
must be created.
Red
text shows modified or added text.
notes explain the changes and purple
text will be eliminated in the final adaptation.
Containers
Administration
Procedures
Contributed by: TIMSS
Description:
Student investigates the effect of different container materials
on heat transfer; draws a conclusion about the best insulator;
and applies concept to a new, seemingly quite different problem.
Students are given two
sets of three containers of different
insulating capacity, for example, metal, ceramic, and plastic,
and are asked to: (1) find out which one would keep a hot
drink warm for the longest time; (2)
design and conduct an experiment to determine which container
would keep a cold drink cold for the longest time.
They also receive thermometers, a clock, a piece of card to
use as a fan, a supply of hot water, and
a supply of ice water. In
the first part of the activity, the students are instructed
to pour a measure of hot water into each of the containers,
and to take the temperature in each one over a ten-minute
interval. They are provided with a pre-designed data table
in which to record their observations. This task assesses
students' ability to make and record measurements of temperature
and probes their understanding of the concept of insulation.
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During the second part
of the activity, students first design an experiment to determine
which container keeps a cold drink cold for the longest time.
After designing the experiment, students are provided with
directions for conducting it. They complete the experiment
and record their observations.
Overview:
Students measure the rates of cooling
when hot water is poured into containers of differential material.
Then students
design and conduct
an experiment to determine which container would keep a cold
drink cold for the longest time.
They are expected to organize their data and report their
conclusions. Part of this exercise is to assess students'
ability to measure with a thermometer.
This task is designed to take students
approximately 20
to 30 50
to 60 minutes to complete.
Overall Task Content Area:
Physical Science
Specific Knowledge Areas:
Physical Properties of Matter
- specific heat and temperature
Understanding Heat
-conduction
Doing Scientific Inquiry
-design and conduct investigation
-use simple equipment and tools
Understanding Scientific Inquiry
-developing observations using evidence
Performance Expectations:
- conducting investigations
- designing investigations
- using equipment
- gathering, organizing, and representing data
- formulating conclusions from investigational data
- applying scientific principles to develop explanations
and solve new problems
National Science Education Standards:
4 B PS 1: Properties of objects and materials: Grades K-4
1.1 Objects have many observable properties, including size,
weight, shape, color, temperature, and the ability to react
with other substances. Those properties can be measured using
tools, such as rulers, balances, and thermometers.
4BPS3: Light, Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism
3.2 Heat can move from one object to another by conduction.
4 A SI 1: Ability to do scientific inquiry: Grades K-4
1.2 Plan and conduct a simple investigation.
1.3 Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data.
4 A SI 2: Understanding about scientific inquiry: Grades
K-4
2.4 Scientists develop explanations using observations (evidence)
and what they already know about the world (scientific knowledge).
Good explanations are based on evidence from investigations.
Achievement Targets
Knowledge Targets
- Understands the concepts of heat transfer and insulation
- Understands the steps to complete an experiment to test
which containers keep a drink hottest
- Understands the steps involved in planning an experiment
to test which containers keep a drink coldest
Reasoning Targets
- Uses findings to construct reasonable explanations about
why a container is the best insulator
- Reasons about how materials influence heat transfer
- Uses findings to solve new problems
Skill Targets
- Makes and records measurements of temperature
- Gathers data
- Organizes data
- Represents data in a table
Product Targets
- Uses skills and reasoning to clearly answer questions
in the assessment
continue to step 2, adapting
task and task design, or learn
more about targets before you go on.
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