Solve Problems and Make Decisions Performance Continuum

Performance Level 2

How adults at Level 2 Solve Problems and Make Decisions:
  • Anticipate or identify problems.
  • Use information from diverse sources to arrive at a clearer understanding of the problem and its root causes.
  • Generate alternative solutions.
  • Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of alternatives, including potential risks and benefits, and short- and long-term consequences.
  • Select alternative that is most appropriate to goal, context, and available resources.
  • Establish criteria for evaluating effectiveness of solution or decision.

Level 2 Indicators

Use Key Knowledge, Skills, and Strategies Adults performing at Level 2 can:
  • Anticipate or identify a problem or conflict, and gather and organize relevant information about the problem/conflict and its root causes from more than one familiar source, through use of strategies such as simplification by breaking down the problem into parts, considering the problem from a divergent point of view, basic research, and comparison/contrast of data.
  • Demonstrate, through talk, writing, or drawing, a basic understanding of the problem/conflict and its root causes by use of a range of simple strategies such as reformulating the problem, summarizing and paraphrasing key information, and drawing simple analogies; and draw appropriate causal links between the problem/conflict and its context.
  • Propose, and/or adapt from similar problem situations, multiple solutions that require sequenced steps and use of some additional information or available resources.
  • Evaluate the proposed solutions, and choose one based on its apparent causal connection to the problem and its appropriateness given context and available resources.
  • Plan and carry out the selected solution process; use a range of simple strategies to monitor progress toward a solution such as interim summary and evaluation of activities, solicitation of external "expert" review, and some prediction based on a recognition of patterns in behaviors or events; and adjust approach as necessary based on feedback.

Show Fluency, Independence, and Ability to Perform in a Range of Settings

Adults performing at Level 2 can Solve Problems and Make Decisions, with some effort and hesitation, and with some outside help, guidance, suggestions and prompting, and can sometimes lead others, to accomplish simple, fairly well-defined and structured tasks that require fairly simple but multistep solution strategies, in a range of comfortable and familiar settings.

Level 2 Examples of Proficient Performance

Adults performing at Level 2 can Solve Problems and Make Decisions to accomplish a variety of goals, such as:
  • Determine how to continue English language studies when current class has ended for summer break.
  • Plan meals for a week that family members will like, on a limited grocery budget.
  • Arrange for a reliable, on-time means of transportation to and from school or work.
  • Pursue a plan for alleviating stress that is negatively affecting one's health.
  • Modify "ideal" vacation plans to fit within a limited budget.
  • Find ways to minimize violation of class groundrules concerning attendance and lateness.

To see a Word version of the performance continuum, click here.

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