Science Task Prescreen
Task Title: Invasive Species Dynamics Simulation Task
Grade: High School
Date: 2026-04-26
SEP: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
DCI: LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
CCC: Stability and Change
Task Purpose: The purpose of this task is to evaluate students’ ability to construct and evaluate claims and reasoning regarding ecosystem stability and resilience in response to extreme fluctuations (the introduction of an invasive species) and subsequent human mitigation efforts.
Instructions
- Before you begin: Complete the task as a student would. Then, consider any support materials provided to teachers or students, such as contextual information about the task and answer keys/rubrics.
- Prescreen: Answer the following high-level questions to identify any major red flags (🚩) in your task. If you find one or more red flags, consider the purpose of the task and the evidence gathered to determine whether the task warrants a deeper dive.
Prescreen Questionnaire
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is there a phenomenon or problem driving the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 2. Can the majority of the task be answered without using information provided by the task scenario? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 3. Can significant portions of the task be answered successfully by using rote knowledge (e.g., definitions, prescriptive or memorized procedure)? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 4. Does the majority of the task require students to use reasoning to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 5. Does the task require students to use some understanding of disciplinary core ideas to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 6. Do students have to use at least one science and engineering practice to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 7. Are the dimensions assessed separately in the majority of the task? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 8. Is the task coherent and comprehensible from the student perspective? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
Recommendation
Based on your assessment needs and the task purpose recorded above, make a recommendation about this task moving forward (choose one):
- [x] Warrants further review.
- [ ] Should not be used.
Summary
Summarize your evidence and reasoning:
The task effectively addresses HS-LS2-6 by anchoring student learning in an interactive phenomenon regarding invasive species and ecosystem resilience. The 5E structure and required argumentation strongly align with the targeted NGSS dimensions, making it an excellent candidate for further review.