Performance-Based Learning: Aligning Experiential Tasks and Assessment to Increase Learning

"Provides excellent, thorough examples of lessons for classroom use. The lessons follow a user-friendly pattern and include outstanding rubrics that can be adapted easily by the teacher." —Debra Rose Howell, Teacher Monte Cristo Elementary, Granite Falls, WA "Gives educators new to performance learning a broad collection of examples for using this model. The sample lessons are tied to learning standards and incorporate a myriad of different modalities." —Rachel Moreno, Associate Professional Specialist University of Notre Dame Motivate students and increase their achievement with high-interest learning tasks! Teachers can promote long-lasting learning, build higher-order thinking skills, develop individual student accountability, and increase student achievement by incorporating performance learning tasks into the curriculum. In this second edition of Performance-Based Learning, Sally Berman demonstrates how this model can be modified for learners at different grade and ability levels, and offers an abundance of sample lesson plans that show how to use performance-based learning throughout the content areas. The updated edition includes an expanded discussion of cooperative learning teams, a new section on how to design effective performance-based learning activities, and a collection of reproducible masters for planning and implementation. Chapters with lesson plans include: A performance task to use as is or adapt for specific student groups The curriculum standards related to the task Reflection guidelines to help students evaluate their learning Web resources for planning and implementing performance learning tasks New and veteran teachers alike will use this detailed resource again and again to plan activities that engage students and inspire them to become invested in their own learning.

Table of Contents:
Dedication Preface Acknowledgments A Cautionary Tale 1. Introduction to Performance Learning Part 1. Basic Performances 2. Rotting Peels and Cores 3. Learning Brains and Music Strains 4. Making Sense of Stories Part II. Intermediate Performances 5. “… To Form a More Perfect Classroom” 6. Cruising the Cortex: Sightseeing for Smarts 7. Patterning Neurons to Picture Patterns Part III. Advanced Performances 8. Half-Life in World Life 9. The Heart-Smart Gourmet 10. A Special Holiday: AttaGram Day Part IV. Designing Performance-Based Activities 11. Designing Performance Learning Activities Reproducibles Bibliography Index