Rigor Check

Consider Student Engagement and Motivation

Evaluate the Cognitive Demand

Evaluating Tasks for Rigor

Assess the Task's Complexity

Analyze the Assessment Component

Resources for Scaffolding for Support

Analyze the Level of Application and Transfers

Check for Integration of Knowledge Across Disciplines

Look for Multiple Perspectives and Interpretations

Consider Student Ownership and Autonomy

Evaluate Opportunities for Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking

How can we build perspective?

Engagement & Motivation

Interdisciplinary Support

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Examine Complexity- not just difficulty

Examine the Structure

A task’s complexity comes from how many different skills or concepts are involved. Tasks with multiple steps, requiring students to organize, integrate, or evaluate information, are more complex than straightforward tasks. Multistep Tasks: Look for tasks that require students to:

• Research, analyze, and present data or arguments.
• Integrate knowledge from various sources.
• Solve open-ended problems with multiple potential solutions.

• Questions to Ask:
• Does the task require students to draw on multiple skills or concepts?
• Is there more than one way to approach the task, or does it demand a single correct answer?

Consider Student Ownership & Autonomy

Independent Learning: Tasks that promote student choice, self-direction, and decision-making increase rigor. When students are given the autonomy to choose their research topics, design their own experiments, or develop their own solutions, the task becomes more rigorous. Student Inquiry: Rigor can also be seen when students engage in inquiry-based tasks that require them to formulate questions and pursue answers on their own.

Questions to Ask:Does the task provide opportunities for student choice and voice? Do students have to make decisions about how they approach the task or solve the problem? Is there room for students to engage in inquiry and design their own learning experiences?

Evaluate the Cognitive Demand (Depth of Thinking)

Identify the Level of Thinking Required: Use frameworks like Bloom’s Taxonomy or Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) to assess the cognitive level of the task. Does the task require: Recall or Repetition (low-level thinking)? Application of Concepts (mid-level thinking)? Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation (high-level thinking)?

Questions to Ask:

• Does the task require students to merely recall facts, or do they need to analyze and synthesize information?
• Are students required to make connections between ideas or apply knowledge to new situations?
• Does the task push students to think critically, problem-solve, or create something new?

Analyze the Level of Application and Transfer

Real-World Application: Rigor increases when students must apply what they’ve learned to new and unfamiliar situations, especially when tasks mimic real-world scenarios. Transfer of Knowledge: Tasks that require students to take what they’ve learned in one context and apply it to another demonstrate higher rigor.

Questions to Ask:

• Does the task encourage students to apply their learning in a new or unfamiliar situation?
• Can students use their knowledge in a practical, real-world context?
• Does the task require students to solve real-world problems or think creatively?

Evaluate Opportunities for Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

Complex Problem-Solving: Look for tasks that require students to engage in problem-solving, where solutions aren’t immediately obvious. Problem-solving tasks often require students to persevere, collaborate, and critically analyze information. Critical Thinking: Tasks that ask students to evaluate arguments, make judgments, or defend positions with evidence are more rigorous. These tasks require deep reasoning and thoughtful analysis.

Questions to Ask:Are students required to analyze and evaluate information before arriving at a solution? Does the task require students to think critically and defend their answers with evidence? Are students challenged to resolve a complex problem or develop a well-supported argument?

Look for Multiple Perspectives and Interpretations

Diverse Perspectives: Tasks that push students to consider different viewpoints or analyze a topic from multiple perspectives increase rigor. These tasks challenge students to go beyond a single correct answer and understand the complexity of the issue. Interpretation: Rigor also exists when students must interpret information, such as analyzing the meaning of a historical document, a piece of literature, or data in a scientific study.

Questions to Ask:Does the task require students to consider multiple perspectives or interpretations? Are students analyzing a concept from different angles or disciplines? Are there multiple acceptable solutions or interpretations, requiring nuanced thinking?

Check for Integration of Knowledge Across Disciplines

Interdisciplinary Connections: A task becomes more rigorous when it requires students to synthesize knowledge from different subject areas. For example, a task that combines historical analysis with mathematical modeling or scientific research with ethical debates requires students to integrate their understanding across disciplines.

Questions to Ask:Does the task require students to draw on knowledge or skills from multiple disciplines? Are students required to make connections between different areas of study to solve a problem or create a product?

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Analyze the Assessment Component

Varied Assessment Types: Rigor can be identified in tasks that involve performance-based assessments, where students must demonstrate understanding through projects, presentations, or authentic products. Opportunities for Reflection: Tasks that include self-reflection, peer critique, or revision based on feedback push students to think deeply about their learning and improve their work

Questions to Ask:Are students assessed in multiple ways (e.g., presentations, written reports, discussions)? Does the task include opportunities for students to reflect on their work or revise based on feedback? Is the assessment aligned with higher-order thinking skills rather than basic recall?

Consider Student Engagement and Motivation

Engaging, Relevant Tasks: Rigor often correlates with tasks that engage students’ interests and are relevant to their lives. When students see the value of a task and how it connects to the real world, they are more likely to engage deeply.

Questions to Ask:Does the task engage students’ interests or connect to their personal experiences? Is the task framed in a way that encourages curiosity or creativity? Do students have opportunities to pursue topics that are meaningful to them?

https://www.edutopia.org/article/to-increase-student-engagement-focus-on-motivation/

Checklist for Rigor

Reflection: Reflect on the 10 criteria with the descriptors that explain the criteria. If you can select any of the descriptors rom a criteria to "count" as a point.

Scoring the Task:

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Balance Challenge with Support

Remeber to provide access by removing barriers!

Scaffolding: While analyzing a task for rigor, ensure that appropriate supports (scaffolds) are in place to remove barriers and ensure students are not overwhelmed. This allows students to engage in rigorous work without feeling frustrated or lost

• Are there clear steps, instructions, or supports in place to guide students through the task?
• Does the task have built-in opportunities for feedback or peer support?
• Are there differentiation strategies for students who may need more or less challenge?

Rigor is relative