Levels of science tasks | Behavioral performance codes | Examples of sources |
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Identifying and remembering | Identifying information; Recognizing a problem; Observing a phenomenon; Remembering a fact; Recognizing a relationship; Recalling a fact; Describing information; Comparing phenomena; Finding a law; Classifying information | Interview: “Identification of data and information in graphs or tables”; PISA 2006: Recognizing issues that are possible to investigate scientifically; Interview: “Carefully observe color changes in a chemical experiment”; Interview: “Remember the formulas in physics and chemical equations”; Interview: “Recognizing that iron and dilute sulfuric acid can react chemically”; NAEP: NAEP 2009-12S10#2; PISA 2003: Describing scientific phenomena NAEP 2011-8S11 #3; NAEP 2009-12S9 #14; Interview: “Classification of chemicals into compounds, single substances and other classes”; |
Explaining and applying | Explaining phenomena; Calculating variables; Explaining a purpose Describing examples; Interpreting a model; Predicting phenomena; Predicting knowledge; Building a model Explaining a relationship; Making judgments; | NAEP 2009-12S10 #1 NAEP 2009-12S10 #3 Interview: “Explaining the purpose of controlling variables in photosynthesis experiments”; Interview: “Giving an example of what a particle is”; Interview: “Explaining the working principle model of a primary battery” NAEP: “Predicting the results of the observation” NAEP 2009-12S9 #16 Interview: “Explaining phenomena by building a particle model, charge model, atomic structure model, etc.” Interview: “Explaining the connection between atomic structure and properties of matter”; Interview: “Judging the reducibility of zinc, iron and copper” |
Inquiring and argument | Evidence-based argument; Rational evaluation; Systemic inquiring; Selecting instruments; Proposing programs | TIMSS: “Proposing arguments based on the evidence”; Interview: “Evaluating and demonstrating the rationality of different design schemes or assumptions”; NAEP 2009-12S9 #7; NAEP: “Using appropriate tools and techniques to conduct scientific inquiry” PISA: “Proposing a feasible research program for a given question” |
Innovative design | Weighing choices; Improving defects; Improving living; Designing and completing production | NAEP: Identifying scientific trade-offs in design decisions and choosing among alternative solutions NAEP: Proposing or critiquing solutions to problems given criteria and scientific constraints TIMSS: “Proposing research questions based on observation” Interview: “Designing and making a simple alcohol detector based on chemical principles and sensors” |