Task Types and Mathematics Learning project definitions

Some words we might use:

Task

A formal question or instruction that is intended to set a goal, challenge or problem that students will work to address.

Lesson

A single or series of related tasks designed with a specific purpose. A lesson might take anywhere between 10 minutes and 5 hours.

Main task

The most important or potentially powerful task within a lesson in which we expect all students to engage.

Preparatory tasks

Subsidiary or pre-requisite tasks in which students engage in preparation for the main task.

Multi domain task

A task with explicit mathematical goals (that are assessable) as the primary focus, incorporating goals drawn from other learning domains (e.g., science, the humanities, health and physical education) that are also assessed.

Discussion

When two or more students talk with each other about the mathematics. The teacher may be involved.

Class discussion

When the whole class talks about the mathematics, perhaps in collectively planning approaches, and perhaps reviewing their responses, with the teacher drawing out commonalities.

Higher order thinking

Higher order thinking refers to general aspects of problem solving, exploration, generalisation, description, reasoning, application, relational storing of knowledge, thinking, creating and synthesising.

Transfer

When there is evidence of transfer of learning to other related mathematical contexts.

Assessment task

Where student work in response to the task is collected for scoring, and is returned to students with some feedback.

Incident

A story of a teaching and/or learning event that elaborates an aspect of teaching and/or learning.

Clarification

The teacher clarifies the task, and/or explains the rationale for, and parameters guiding, the task, but does not tell the students how to do the task

Direction

The teacher shows the students how to do a task, either by using an example, or by indicating the steps needed to complete the task.