Viewed together, the Navigational Charts constitute the basic ontology of TASK. They define, structure, and interrelate sustainability knowledge covered by TASK™. As such, they provide a more concise, complete, and structured understanding of the 28 subjects listed on the TASK™ matrix. Developed through an iterative process of periodic, research-based literature reviews of scientific and organizational research, the Navigational Charts constitute an important part of the academic foundation of TASK™.
While Sulitest uses the Navigational Charts internally to guide the process of generating assessment questions, Sulitest makes them available to clients as an additional support for both preparing students to take TASK™, and supporting faculty and program directors in the process of curricular review and revision.
Each subject assessed in TASK™ is presented as a single chart with a total of 28 distinct subjects, as listed in the Sustainability Knowledge Matrix (more insights here).
Assigned to one of the 3 TASK™ Frameworks, each chart includes:
- A resource-based definition of the Subject
- 4-8 key thematic topics and corresponding bullet-points within the Subject
- A selected bibliography upon which the chart is based
- A list of key international regulatory initiatives related to the subject at hand
3. Levers of Opportunity
File coming soon
Subjects included:
Note that the title of each thematic topic may indicate the general type of knowledge addressed in that box as assessed by TASK™. Words in the titles such as principles, trends, causes, or impact are likely to correspond respectively to one of the four types of knowledge assessed by TASK™.
Purpose and Limitations
The Navigational Charts are designed to provide a general overview of the content of each TASK™ Subject. They are not exhaustive and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive representation of the subject in question. Moreover, while the Sulitest content team uses these Charts internally to identify and structure potential assessment questions — and some of the key topics and ideas listed do correspond to TASK™ questions — there is not a one-to-one correspondence between every bullet point and a specific question. Overall, the Charts are not intended as a “checklist” for ensuring higher TASK™ scores. Instead, they serve as a reference and orientation tool.
How to use the Navigational Charts
- Map existing course coverage:
- At the Subject level, identify which courses within a program currently address each sustainability Subject.
- Explore and identify opportunities for inclusion
- For the Subjects already covered, faculty can review the key ideas and topics listed in the Charts to identify:
- Concepts already present in lectures or readings;
- Topics that could feasibly be incorporated into future versions of the syllabus.
- Consider whether the Subject is approached holistically — that is, whether the course content addresses both foundational concepts and more complex dynamics such as causes, impacts, and emerging trends.
- The selected bibliography included for each Subject can also serve as a reliable reference list for instructors seeking to update course materials or identify trusted sources to learn more about areas slightly outside their own expertise.
- Use TASK™ results as an additional lens
- TASK™ scores can provide a complementary perspective to identify Subjects that may need further attention or reinforcement.
- The Charts can help educators contextualize these findings by clarifying the scope and structure of each Subject and offering inspiration for new materials or readings.
- Track and visualize coverage
- As programs work through this process, track courses which already cover the Subjects and which courses could cover more subjects, which allows an overall picture to emerge of how program content relates to the sustainability knowledge domains in TASK™.
- This process helps identify both gaps and overlaps, as well as areas of shared interest or potential collaboration among faculty members.