Making Learning Real: Design Principles and Evidence for Applied Learning in Schools
Category: Student Learning
Instrument Overview
The Practical Measures, Routines & Representations (PMR²) Task Analysis Tool is an observation and planning tool used to examine the level of cognitive rigor built into a mathematics task before it is taught. It helps teachers and instructional teams look closely at what students must actually think and do to complete a task successfully. The tool sorts tasks into three categories—Using Procedures, Making Sense of Procedures, and Problem Solving—based on how much reasoning, explanation, and analysis the task requires. This structure gives educators a simple way to judge whether a task invites deeper mathematical thinking or primarily asks students to apply a routine.
The PMR² Task Analysis Tool is designed for use in elementary through high school settings as part of professional learning or collaborative planning. It is not an evaluation tool. Instead, it supports teams in selecting and refining tasks that promote meaningful student learning and align with research on high-quality math instruction. The tool is openly licensed and maintained by the PMR² project, which encourages educators to adapt it and share improvements. By making the cognitive demand of tasks more visible, the tool helps teachers plan lessons that better support reasoning, discussion, and sense-making in mathematics.
Organization
Collection Category(ies)
Content
Grades
Kindergarten,
1st Grade,
2nd Grade,
3rd Grade,
4th Grade,
5th Grade,
6th Grade,
7th Grade,
8th Grade,
9th Grade,
10th Grade,
11th Grade,
12th Grade
Languages
English
Respondent
Student
Administration Information
Length
3 levels of "rigor"
Qualifications
None indicated
Access and Use
Developer
Kara Jackson, PMRR Co-PI and associate professor at the University of Washington College of Education Paul Cobb, PMRR Co-PI and research professor at Vanderbilt University
Price
Free
Contact
Kara Jackson: karajack@uw.edu
Paul Cobb: paul.cobb@vanderbilt.edu
Open Access
Yes
Psychometrics (additional guidance)
Psychometric References
None indicated
