Workshop 20: Mathematical Performance-Based Learning in Hangzhou Yungu School

Performance-Based Learning is an advanced teaching approach that emphasizes what students can do as a result of instruction. In other words, teachers cultivate and assess students’ competencies by requiring them to solve a problem or create something in real-life or simulated scenarios using their mathematical knowledge. Hangzhou Yungu School’s math teachers have designed three types of performance tasks: 1) daily-class performance tasks, which are small assignments used in one class, 2) unit performance tasks, which are used during a whole unit of instruction, and 3) multiple-unit performance tasks, which are long-term tasks that last among several related units. Performance tasks focus on competencies acquired in the learning process, assess how well students learn, and guide students to what they can do. Completing performance tasks in mathematics is an excellent deep learning process that meets the expectations of mathematical education. This article presents some cases of the above three performance tasks and provides several suggestions for future research directions.