Performance Task: Friendship
A task designed for English languages learners
As an English language instructor, finding time to plan lessons can be a challenge. Using Wiggins and McTighe’s (2005) G.R.A.S.P.S. Framework (see Performance Tasks (G.R.A.S.P.S. Framework), try adapting the performance task below to one of your classes and let me know how it went!
Your task is to create and present a multimedia campaign that highlights the importance of friendship and its positive impact on mental health, social skills, and personal growth. Working as part of a creative team, you will research the benefits of friendship, design compelling materials (such as videos, posters, or social media posts), and deliver a 3-5 minute presentation to a young adult audience. The goal is to inspire others to value and nurture meaningful friendships through a clear, engaging, and well-researched campaign. You’ll collaborate with your teammates to brainstorm ideas, create materials, and refine your message, all while building critical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills. Your work will be assessed based on creativity, organization, emotional impact, and the strength of your research.
Instructors: For each of the sections below, choose the one prompt that best suits your educational context.
Goal
Your task is to create and present a multimedia campaign promoting the importance of friendship.
The goal is to highlight the positive impacts of friendship on mental health, social skills, and personal growth.
The problem or challenge is to communicate these ideas in a way that resonates with diverse audiences while emphasizing personal connections.
The obstacles to overcome are limited resources, varying perspectives on friendship, and the need for effective collaboration with teammates.
Role
You are a member of a creative team at a youth-centered community organization.
You have been asked to design and present a campaign that promotes the value of friendship to young adults.
Your job is to research, plan, and present a persuasive and engaging campaign that connects with your audience emotionally and intellectually.
Audience
Your clients are peers and community members in the young adult demographic.
The target audience is individuals aged 18–25 who may have different views on the meaning and importance of friendship.
You need to convince your audience that friendship is a crucial part of a fulfilling life and provide actionable ways to foster meaningful connections.
Situation
The context you find yourself in is a competitive environment where several groups are creating campaigns on different life values.
The challenge involves dealing with differing views of friendship and ensuring your campaign stands out while remaining authentic and relatable.
Product, Performance, & Purpose
You will create a multimedia campaign (e.g., video, posters, social media posts) in order to communicate the benefits of friendship.
You need to develop a storyboard or plan so that your campaign is clear, compelling, and impactful.
Learners will create: A multimedia presentation and supporting materials (infographic, written pitch, or blog post).
Learners will produce: A final campaign, including visuals and a script for a 3-5 minute presentation.
Learners will do: Research on friendship, collaborate on campaign design, and present their work.
The purpose of the task: To encourage learners to analyze, communicate, and advocate for the importance of friendships while developing critical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Process learners will follow:
Brainstorm what friendship means and why it matters.
Research its benefits and challenges using credible sources.
Plan and storyboard their campaign.
Create the multimedia elements.
Present the campaign to peers and receive feedback.
Reflect on the experience and their personal views on friendship.
Degree of differentiation: Learners can choose the medium of their campaign (e.g., video, infographic, podcast, or live presentation), ensuring accessibility and leveraging their unique skills.
Standards or Criteria
Your performance needs to demonstrate creativity, research-based content, and effective collaboration.
Your work will be judged by its clarity, emotional impact, and ability to engage the target audience.
Your product must meet the following standards:
Research is accurate and well-cited.
Presentation is clear, organized, and visually appealing.
Campaign effectively conveys the benefits of friendship and offers actionable advice.
Teamwork and individual contributions are evident in the final product.