Ten Tips for TaskStream Tasks: Pass on the First Attempt!

I have two degrees from WGU a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. My husband has three degrees from WGU a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance. As a result, I am intimately familiar with WGU and TaskStream. The following tips are the result of our combined experience and served me well throughout my career at WGU. I hope they will help you too! UNDERSTAND THE TASK: 1. Download or copy the Task Instructions AND the Rubric. Read through both. Often the Rubric can help clarify the Task Instructions (and vice versa). 2. Review the Learning Objectives at the top of the Task Instructions in TaskStream. The Learning Objectives can also help to clarify what the assignment is looking for. 3. Review the Course of Study for each task. Often additional information is included in the Course of Study which will help clarify the necessary work and focus your efforts. 4. Download the Activities at a Glance if one is present. The Activities at a Glance will help organize your efforts and determine which Learning Resources are best used to complete each part of a task. Often the assignments are closely aligned with the specific Learning Resources. MAKE IT EASY FOR THE GRADERS: 5. Use a table of contents. This will ensure the graders can find what they need, especially on those longer papers. I created a generic Word template with an APA cover page, table of contents and heading styles and started each paper with this same format. 6. Outline your paper according to the Task Instructions and the Rubric. Create your outline before you start writing. Use each line of instruction in the task as an organizational heading in your paper. Every content-related Rubric requirement should have a heading too. Often these are the same but not always! This ensures that you include everything necessary in your paper. It also ensures that the graders can easily find each item. Feel free to add extra headings for clarity and organization, but at a minimum include a heading for each Task Instruction or Rubric criteria. Now all you have to do is fill in the content for each heading!

CLARIFY INSTRUCTIONS AND ASK QUESTIONS: 7. Search the WGU community forums for posts on the specific task you are attempting. This will pinpoint areas of the task where others have had questions or issues. This can save a lot of wasted time and will help you to further focus your efforts and avoid common problems. Many of the Course Mentors also post FAQs and best practices on the community forums which can be very helpful. 8. Post questions on the WGU community forums or contact the Course Mentor. Have questions? Confused? Spinning your wheels? Not sure what a specific Task Instruction is asking for? Post your question on the community forum for the class. Another classmate or the Course Mentor will offer help. This also means that future students can learn from your questions. Or contact the Course Mentor directly. He/she cannot give you the answer, but can point you in the right direction and clarify important concepts. In my experience, the Course Mentors have been extremely helpful. PREPARE TO SUBMIT: 9. Proofread and spellcheck, of course. If you are not good at editing or grammar, ask someone else to help you proofread. 10. Compare your final paper to the Task Instructions and Rubric. Double check: Have you fully responded to each prompt in the Task Instructions? Do you have a heading and complete response for every single content-related item on the Rubric? TURN IT IN! If you have followed the steps above, you should be in good shape. If you do receive revision requests they will likely be minor ones. Or perhaps the graders couldnt find certain information and all that is need is another header to point the way. However, if you have questions or concerns about the revisions discuss them with the Course Mentor.