Complex tasks involve both basic and advanced skills. In this regard, the heroes project was typical. It involved students in a wide range of tasks, some of which called for high-level thinking. For example, the students prepared to conduct their interviews by analyzing interviews with famous people. From these, they developed a set of questions that would elicit certain information and generate interesting responses.
Work takes place in heterogeneous, collaborative groups .
Initial practice convinced students that it is hard to conduct a good interview and take notes at the same time, so three-student teams went out to conduct each interview. One student asked the questions, a second videotaped, and a third recorded notes. After completing the fieldwork, each team of students reviewed and critiqued its videotaped interviews. In their groups, students discussed ways to improve their technique and considered additional questions that should have been asked. Students also prepared a written transcript and summary of the key points in the videotape and recorder's notes.