Example Technology Performance Assessment Task

 

Task #4

A Report Containing Text and Visual Representation

Grade

6

Content Area(s)

Science

Unit Title/Theme

Circulatory System, “Healthy Heart”

Task Developer/Author

Laura Botte

 

 

 

 

1.                 Setting the Context

 

This activity would be the second activity in a Healthy Heart Unit. The first activity might involve a cow or pig heart dissection. This dissection would serve as the jump off point for a discussion of the parts of the heart and how each part worked together to pump blood. Students have some intuitive notions about the function of the blood and heart because of their experiences. These experiences serve as the basis for this activity.  Using heart monitors, students are able to challenge their views of how the heart reacts to exercise.  After these activities are complete, students will role-play blood cells in their path through the heart. This role-play will lead into a discussion of cells and an opportunity to see cheek and blood cells under a microscope. The unit is tied together with a variety of activities using blood pressure monitors to investigate blood pressure. The impact of high blood pressure and lifestyle choices have upon health are discussed as a conclusion to the unit. Students will be given instruction on proper use of the heart rate or pulse monitors. 

 This activity is the conclusion of the investigation of the impact of exercise has on heart rate. This activity should take three or four forty-five minute class periods. Students will have an opportunity to practice using and reading the heart rate or pulse monitors before the activity. Students will be asked to collect heart rate data using digital heart rate or pulse monitors while they are in different body positions and at different levels of activity.  Students will create a lab report using a standard format in which they include their hypothesis on the change in heart rate during activity, data spreadsheets and graphs, an analysis of their hypothesis and conclusions based on their data and analysis. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.                 Grade Expectations/Standards

 

Technology

 

IT1 - Basic Operations & Concepts

 

IT3 - Productivity Tools

·        Creating a graphical representation of multiple series of numerical data.

 

 

Content

 

7.1 Scientific method – Students use scientific method to explain describe and investigate phenomena.

7.2 Investigation – Students conduct a variety of their own investigations and projects

 

 

7.14 Human Body – Circulatory system

 

Body Systems

 

S5-6:41

Students demonstrate their understanding of Human Body

Systems by…

Investigating circumstances that affect more than one body system and explaining the interconnected relationship between the body systems (e.g., the effects of exercise on

several interdependent body systems, such as respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, skeletal systems).

 

 

 


3. The Performance Task

 

Students will understand the function and changes of heart rate and be able to graph and analyze the data.

 
 Goals for this activity are for students to understand:  

1.      there are a multitude of factors that impact heart rate;

2.      technologies vary in their usefulness;

3.      good science relies on logical conclusions drawn from dependable data.

4.      Assess student understanding and competency with basic computer operations, report writing containing text and visual representations, spreadsheets graphing and word processing.

Role:  The student will be in the role of researcher.

Audience: fellow researchers in their classroom who will also be conducting heart rate research.

Situation: The classroom researchers will be collecting data on heart rate. They will use digital heart rate monitors or digital pulse monitors to measure heart rate while their subjects are lying down, sitting, standing and jogging in place.

Product/Performance: A typed lab report that incorporates text, visual representations, spreadsheets and graphs.

4. Activities

This task has been written assuming teachers have enough heart rate monitors and enough computers so that students can work in pairs. Teachers will need to adjust the amount of time the assessment takes to fit the technology available to them.

Day 1 – 45 minutes.

Students will form hypothesis of what they predict will occur during the heart rate measurements and record this hypothesis on their data records sheet.

Students will gather data on heart rate during exercise and at rest in four different positions (lying down, sitting, standing and running); Students will collect the data on heart rate for one minute in each body position. They should do four trials for each body position.

Students will collect data which will be entered on to spreadsheets where it will be manipulated and calculated. (Calculations can be on any information teacher needs; averages, gender differences, etc.)

Day 2- 45 minute period

Students will enter data on spreadsheets.

Students will graph data within the spreadsheets, compute male and female averages for each different heart rate and graph each average.

Day 3 and 4– 45 minute periods

Students will begin writing their lab report where they will:

§         draw conclusions based upon the data about the heart rate differences of males vs. females;

§         draw conclusions about the impact of exercise on heart rate and the relative body positions on heart rate;

§         discuss  the accuracy of the technology used;

§         propose some alternative ways to check the technology.

 

5. Materials and Resources

Digital heart rate or pulse monitors

Computers with USB connections

Word processing, spreadsheet and graphing software

Data collection worksheet

 

6. Criteria/Rubric

Assessment will occur with the teacher evaluating student responses on the activity sheet, evaluating their performance during the activity. Their completed lab report will assess the students’ learning. Technology proficiency will be assessed by the technology rubric attached.

 


Student Name:     ________________________________________

 

CATEGORY

Exceeds expectations

Meets expectations

Almost meets

expectations

Does not meet expectations

Experimental Hypothesis

Hypothesized relationship between the variables and the predicted results is clear and reasonable based on what has been studied.

Hypothesized relationship between the variables and the predicted results is reasonable based on general knowledge and observations.

Hypothesized relationship between the variables and the predicted results has been stated, but appears to be based on flawed logic.

No hypothesis has been stated.

Question/Purpose

The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is clearly identified and stated.

The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is identified, but is stated in a somewhat unclear manner.

The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is partially identified, and is stated in a somewhat unclear manner.

The purpose of the lab or the question to

be answered during the lab is erroneous or

Irrelevant.

Drawings/Diagrams

Clear, accurate diagrams are included and make the experiment easier to understand. Diagrams are labeled neatly and accurately.

Diagrams are included and are labeled neatly and accurately.

Diagrams are included and are labeled.

Needed diagrams are missing OR are

 missing important labels.

Data

Professional looking and accurate representation of the data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled and titled.

Accurate representation of the data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled and titled.

Accurate representation of the data in written form, but no graphs or tables are presented.

Data are not shown OR are inaccurate.

Conclusion

Conclusion includes whether the findings supported the hypothesis, possible sources of error, and what was learned from the experiment.

Conclusion includes whether the findings supported the hypothesis and what was learned from the experiment.

Conclusion includes what was learned from the experiment.

No conclusion was included in the report OR

shows little effort and reflection.

Appearance/

Organization

Lab report is typed and uses headings and subheadings to visually organize the material.

Lab report is neatly handwritten and uses headings and subheadings to visually organize the material.

Lab report is neatly written or typed, but formatting does not help visually organize the material.

Lab report is handwritten and looks

sloppy with cross-outs, multiple erasures

and/or tears and creases.

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

One or fewer errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report.

Two or three errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report.

Four errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in the report.

More than 4 errors in spelling, punctuation

 and grammar in the report.


Technology Rubric

 

Grade Expectation

Introduced

With Assistance

Met the Standard

Basic Operations

Navigating between open windows and applications.

 

 

 

Using digital tools to capture images and other information (e.g. temperature, light, sound, etc.) and import them into a computer.

 

 

 

Social, Ethical & Human Issues

Not Assessed

 

 

 

Productivity Tools

Manipulating styles and formats (e.g. header, footer, borders, page breaks, lists).

 

 

 

Using spell check, and thesaurus.

 

 

 

Creating a table

 

 

 

Creating a spreadsheet from a blank page, including simple formulas and simple functions (SUM and AVG ).

 

 

 

Creating a graphical representation of multiple series of numerical data.

 

 

 

Manipulating format (e.g., resizing rows and columns, font, colors, hiding grid)

 

 

 

Communication

Not Assessed

 

 

 

Research, Problem Solving & Decision Making

Not Assessed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Checklist

 

 

 

 


7. Checklist

Name________________________

Measuring Heartbeat Activity worksheet

 

Develop your hypothesis – What changes do you think will occur to your partners heart beat when you measure it when they are lying down, sitting, standing and jogging in place?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In this activity you will use hear rate monitors to measure the number of times your partners heart beats each minute. You will do four trials for each body position. Use the table to record your data.

Number of Heartbeats per minute

 

Lying Down

Sitting

Standing

Jogging in Place

 

 

 

 

 

Trial 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial 4