6 Questions to Support Task Design

Update: The Task Design Canvas can be found here.

  1. How can I design a “real world” task that my students will be intrinsically interested in?

    • Perform a drama? Build a city? Make a movie? Build a robot? Extract a natural resource? Operate a mini-Saddledome for a week? Revitalize a community or brownfield?

    • Remember: A person’s perspective of reality is primary (their story) – therefore, we need to value and start the change process with what is important to the person.

  2. How can I effectively level the playing field for all students at the outset?

    • Instructions? Examples? Big-group sharing of past experience?

    • Remember: People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they are invited to start with what they already know.

  3. How can I set parameters that encourage my students rather than discourage them?

    • How can we help the students to see challenges as capacity fostering (not something to avoid)?

    • Remember: The language we use creates our reality

  4. If there's a chance my students could feel like they failed, how can I mitigate this?

    • Remember: Positive change occurs in the context of authentic relationships - people need to know someone cares and will be there unconditionally for them.

  5. How can I give multiple points of validation and affirmation throughout the experience?

    • Remember: Capacity building is a process and a goal – a life long journey that is dynamic as opposed to static.

  6. How can I showcase student ingenuity and creativity?

    • Remember: It is important to value differences and the essential need to collaborate – effective change is a collaborative, inclusive and participatory process – “It takes a village to raise a child”.