All about e-TASC

e-TASC is a smart new tool that can be used by teachers and learners to think through and solve complex problems in an online environment. e-TASC is derived from TASC (Thinking Actively in a Social Context), a thinking skills methodology that has been used in education for over 20 years. The TASC methodology provides an eight step guide through the stages of thinking and problem-solving in a structured and sequential way. It promotes meta-cognition by encouraging learners to reflect on and evaluate the choices they make.

The 8 steps of e-TASC

The eight steps are translated into an online environment, offering users the ability to use the methodology to work through projects and solve problems. Users can generate their own content by locating, uploading and saving electronic content such as images, audio, video and text from the web and other digital sources.

Users can then go on to categorise their content and show connections graphically and textually between items and ideas. They can make notes on selected content, exploring, analysing and synthesising as they proceed. They can also rate the importance of the content.

e-TASC can be used collaboratively or independently, by teachers or students. Teachers can use it to create projects for students, support and assess their progress and add diagnostic comments as they progress. They can also use it to prepare and deliver lessons to whole classes or small groups as well as developing and sharing resources with colleagues in school or across schools. There are detailed teacher notes and example projects built into the tool.

The e-TASC tool can be used cross phase, in any subject, by any teacher, and can be populated with templates and content through a bottom up approach which puts the tool firmly in the hands of the practitioners.