Create a Standards-Based Integrated Performance Assessment Unit Step-by-Step

Step 3: Identify Instructional Goals

After selecting a theme and essential question, the next step is to describe what the learners will know and be able to do as a result of completing the unit of instruction. Think of both the content and linguistic goals for your unit. For example, the teachers for the university-level course in Italian identified the following goals:

Content goals:

• Students will be able to identify the characteristics of Italian comedy.
• Students will be able to describe how Italian comedy has changed over the last fifty years.
• Students will be able to create an original story that reflects the characteristics of Italian comedy.

Linguistic goals:

• Students will be able to read about and discuss the history of Italian comedy.
• Students will be able to participate in a discussion asking and responding to a variety of questions, expressing and supporting personal opinions about various Italian comedies.
• Students will be able to write a script and film an original story that reflects the characteristics of Italian comedy.
• Students will be able to make suggestions and critique the original comedies created by their classmates.

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Bloom's Taxonomy is helpful in writing learning goals. The following list suggests action verbs for each level of the taxonomy.

Action Verbs for creating instructional goals
(Bloom's Revised Taxonomy)

Level 1. Remember

Choose Count Describe Define Draw

Identify Label List Locate Match

Memorize Name Omit Outline Point

Quote Read Recall Recite Recognize

Repeat Reproduce Select State

Level 2. Understand

Associate Classify Compute Convert Defend Demonstrate

Discuss Distinguish Estimate Explain Express Extend

Extrapolate Generalize Give Examples Illustrate Indicate Infer

Interpret Interrelate Match Paraphrase Predict Represent

Restate Rewrite Show Summarize Tell Translate

Level 3. Apply

Add Apply Calculate Change Choose Classify

Complete Compute Discover Divide Modify Dramatize

Examine Explain Generalize Produce Graph Interpolate

Manipulate Operate Organize Paint Prepare Select

Show Sketch Solve Subtract Use

Level 4. Analyze

Analyze Arrange Breakdown Categorize Classify

Combine Compare Design Detect Develop

Diagram Differentiate Discriminate Distinguish Identify

Illustrate Infer Outline Point out Relate

Select Separate Subdivide Survey Utilize

Level 5. Evaluate

Appraise Assess Compare Conclude

Contrast Criticize Critique Defend

Determine Grade Judge Justify

Measure Rank Rate

Support Test

Level 6. Create

Choose Combine Compile Compose Construct Create Design

Develop Devise Do Drive Explain Formulate Generate

Group Hypothesize Integrate Invent Make Organize Originate

Plan Prescribe Produce Propose Rearrange Reconstruct Reorganize

Revise Rewrite Role Play Tell Transform

Now think about the unit on the market in the middle school Spanish class (explained in the video in Step 2). In the space provided, write potential content and linguistic goals for this unit.