Here's a framework for designing your own performance-based curriculum. Based on the standards set by the National Council for the Social Studies, this guide presents examples drawn from real-life contexts, with specific benchmarks for Grades 3, 5, 8, and 12. These practical tools help you assess your program's effectiveness on a continuing basis.

The benchmarks and examples will allow you to teach your students how they can:

• Identify the problem to be solved
• Use multiple problem-solving strategies
• Apply what they learn to other problems
• Be able to show how and why as well as what

One section looks closely at the technology connections for school curriculum. It examines how the five central learning actions in performance-based curriculum—access, interpret, produce, disseminate, and evaluate—can be greatly enhanced when used in conjunction with technology. In addition, it shows you how your curriculum can incorporate technology as content.

Put together a curriculum that helps your students learn how to learn, not just memorize data. Engage your students in actively acquiring knowledge. Teach them how to "show what they know" by applying what they've learned to real-life situations—and that learning never stops.