Fundamental Performance Roles: An Overview of Verbs for Outcomes and Course Learning Requirements (CLRs)
Underlying each and all of the Dimensions of Living and their Performance Requirements are a broad range of technical and interpersonal performance roles that people need to master. This document terms them Fundamental Life Performance Roles, and they operate in every dimension. The content of performance varies and the level of complexity increases as the students grows, but the same roles are taught and practiced during every year of schooling, at every opportunity, in the context of every task because these roles are basic to all successful learning and living.
Users and Performers
Managing life is a matter of gaining mastery over a very broad variety of functional tasks and developing some to levels of proficiency that enable one to earn a living from them. Users and Performers can successfully apply basic ideas, information, skills, tools, and technologies to carry out and manage the essential tasks and responsibilities associated with all life roles. They readily grasp what particular situations demand and use the resources at their disposal to get things done.
Typically, competent Users and Performers will be able to
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighAct / Adopt / Anticipate
Perform / Calculate / Help
Handle / Execute
Use / Operate
Problem Finders and Solvers
Life abounds with challenges, dilemmas, and problems that must be understood, researched, and resolved with sound decisions by using a variety of investigative, analytical, and decision making methods. Problem Finders and Solvers can successfully anticipate, explore, investigate, analyze, and resolve problems that arise in all dimensions of living. They instinctively look below the surface of issues to examine deeper underlying causes from a variety of perspectives and develop and decide on potential solutions consistent with their analyses.
Typically, competent Problem Finders and Solvers will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighDiscover / Analyze / Argue
Examine / Investigate / Anticipate
Explore / Prioritize / Criticize
Inquire / Solve / Derive
Question / Verify / Evaluate
Search / Predict
Survey
Creators and Producers
Many aspects of life require planning, inventing, and producing new things -- from meals at home, to smart ways of doing things, to new products for the market place. Creators and Producers can successfully devise, organize, and produce new ideas, products, results, and arrangements that change the operating environment in each dimension of living. They naturally seek ways to develop new possibilities for understanding or doing things and transform them into original, workable products or processes.
Typically, competent Creators and Producers will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighCause / Compose / Create
Construct / Design / Devise
Evoke / Develop / Establish
Fashion / Modify / Formulate
Initiate / Organize / Innovate
Make / Plan / Institute
Produce / Propose / Invent
Revise
Learners and Thinkers
Underlying the ability to successfully carry out these other three predominantly technical/ cognitive performance roles are two other roles that underline and bolster them. One of these roles is Learners and Thinkers - people who have the basic cognitive tools and strategies to translate new information and experiences into bases for sound action. Learners and Thinkers can successfully use their repertoire of knowledge and reasoning strategies to extend their capabilities for successful action by assimilating, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing new experiences into new capabilities for further learning, thought, and action.
Typically, competent Learners and Thinkers will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighCategorize / Assess / Critique
Classify / Compare / Deduce
Define / Contrast / Hypothesize
Describe / Decipher / Infer
Detect / Diagnose / Justify
Explain / Differentiate / Predict
Order / Estimate / Recommend
Outline / Extend / Validate
Rank / Evaluate
Judge
Prioritize
Solve
Summarize
Listeners and Communicators
The second of the two underlying the ability to successfully carry out the technical/cognitive performance roles involves the person at the heart of interpersonal contact: listening and communicating. Listeners and Communicators can successfully grasp the express ideas, information, intention, feeling, and/or concern from others in ways that are clearly understood and appreciated. They readily and accurately comprehend and use words, pictures, gestures, deeds, styles, symbols, emotions, and mannerisms and means for conveying and receiving thoughts and possibilities.
Typically, competent Listeners and Communicators will be able to
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighConvey / Acknowledge / Argue
Describe / Clarify / Elaborate
Discuss / Correspond / Paraphrase
Explain / Depict / Persuade
Imitate / Exhibit / Portray
Recite / Express
Recount / Relate
Restate / Respond
Show / Speak
State / Write
Leaders and Organizers
Virtually all forms of collective endeavors require the presence and active participation of individuals who can set direction and mobilize the support for whatever the issue or undertaking may be. Leaders and Organizers can successfully initiate, provide direction for, coordinate, and facilitate the accomplishment of collective tasks in all dimensions of interpersonal endeavour. They naturally perceive and define intended results, determine how they might be accomplished, anticipate potential roadblocks, and enlist, ensure, and support the quality participation of those involved in achieving the results.
Typically, competent Leaders and Organizers will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighDecide / Arrange / Anticipate
Direct / Coordinate / Engage
Ensure / Encourage / Formulate
Lead / Endure / Harmonize
Organize / Enlist / Initiate
Persist / Establish / Inspire
Praise / Facilitate
Supervise / Implement
Intervene
Preserve
Manage
Systematize
Team Members and Partners
What some call "Getting along" and "Working together for common good" seem to be the cornerstones of civilized life and have within the past decade become issues of urgency within the world of work. Team Members and Partners can successfully contribute their best efforts to achieve success in collaborative endeavours in any dimension or arena of life. They readily seek agreement on goals, procedures, responsibilities, and rewards and set aside personal interests, preferences, and convenience to accomplish mutual aims.
Typically, competent Team Members and Partners will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighAccept / Assist / Accommodate
Agree / Collaborate / Defend
Allow / Demand / Encourage
Connect / Praise / Facilitate
Contribute / Protect / Persuade
Cooperate / Resolve / Support
Help / Share
Offer / Unite
Teachers and Mentors
Teaching, mentoring, and advising lie at the heart of close personal relationships, family life, and work roles and represent the core aspects of close interpersonal bonding, respect, and friendship. Teachers and Mentors can successfully change the thinking, skills, orientation, and motivation of others through the explanations they provide, the counsel they give, and the example they set. They readily share whatever information, time, perspective, and skills are at their disposal to improve the understanding, affect, and performance capabilities of those with whom they work and relate.
Typically, competent Teachers and Mentors will be able to:
Complexity of Performance
Low / Medium / HighExplain / Advise / Anticipate
Guide / Coach / Counsel
Suggest / Educate / Empathize
Teach / Mentor / Expect
Resolve / Model
Negotiate
T
aken together, these eight performance roles represent the foundation for active, productive, quality living and the starting point for challenging, inspiring and relevant learning experiences for young people of any age. Those committed to Transformational Outcome-Based Education hope that they replace the Three R's and subject matter content as the true Basic for the Twenty First Century in North America's schools. Our society and its current and future children deserve nothing less.
Used with permission: High Success Learning Network.