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
Act
Perform
Handle
Use
Medium
Adopt
Calculate
Execute
Operate
High
Anticipate
Help
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
Discover
Examine
Explore
Inquire
Question
Search
Survey
Medium
Analyze
Investigate
Prioritize
Solve
Verify
Used with permission: High Success Learning Network.
High
Argue
Anticipate
Criticize
Derive
Evaluate
Predict
FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE ROLES: An Overview of Verbs for Outcomes and
Course Learning Requirements (CLRs)
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
Cause
Construct
Evoke
Fashion
Initiate
Make
Produce
Medium
Compose
Design
Develop
Modify
Organize
Plan
Propose
Revise
High
Create
Devise
Establish
Formulate
Innovate
Institute
Invent
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
Categorize
Classify
Define
Describe
Detect
Explain
Order
Outline
Rank
Medium
Assess
Compare
Contrast
Decipher
Diagnose
Differentiate
Estimate
Extend
Evaluate
Used with permission: High Success Learning Network.
High
Critique
Deduce
Hypothesize
Infer
Justify
Predict
Recommend
Validate
FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE ROLES: An Overview of Verbs for Outcomes and
Course Learning Requirements (CLRs)
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
Convey
Describe
Discuss
Explain
Imitate
Recite
Recount
Restate
Show
State
Medium
Acknowledge
Clarify
Correspond
Depict
Exhibit
Express
Relate
Respond
Speak
Write
High
Argue
Elaborate
Paraphrase
Persuade
Portray
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:
Used with permission: High Success Learning Network.
FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE ROLES: An Overview of Verbs for Outcomes and
Course Learning Requirements (CLRs)
Complexity of Performance
Low
Decide
Direct
Ensure
Lead
Organize
Persist
Praise
Supervise
Medium
Arrange
Coordinate
Encourage
Endure
Enlist
Establish
Facilitate
Implement
Intervene
Preserve
Manage
Systematize
High
Anticipate
Engage
Formulate
Harmonize
Initiate
Inspire
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
Accept
Agree
Allow
Connect
Contribute
Cooperate
Help
Offer
Medium
Assist
Collaborate
Demand
Praise
Protect
Resolve
Share
Unite
High
Accommodate
Defend
Encourage
Facilitate
Persuade
Support
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,
Used with permission: High Success Learning Network.
FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE ROLES: An Overview of Verbs for Outcomes and
Course Learning Requirements (CLRs)
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
Explain
Guide
Suggest
Teach
Medium
Advise
Coach
Educate
Mentor
Resolve
T
High
Anticipate
Counsel
Empathize
Expect
Model
Negotiate
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.