Challenging, Authentic, Interdisciplinary Tasks

Tasks for engaged learners have the following characteristics:

• Challenging. Unlike tasks usually offered in schools, challenging tasks are typically complex and require sustained amounts of time. Such tasks also require students to stretch their thinking and social skills in order to be successful.

• Authentic. Authentic tasks correspond to tasks in the home and workplace. They are closely related to real-world problems and projects, build on life experiences, require in-depth work, and benefit from frequent collaboration. Such collaboration can take place with peers and mentors within school or with diverse people outside of school.

• Integrative/interdisciplinary. Challenging and authentic tasks often require integrated instruction, which blends disciplines into thematic or problem-based pursuits, and instruction that incorporates problem-based learning and curriculum by project.