Some additional characteristics of open middle problems include:
- They often have multiple ways of solving them as opposed to a problem where you are told to solve it using a specific method. Example
- They may involve optimization such that it is easy to get an answer but more challenging to get the best or optimal answer. Example
- They may appear to be simple and procedural in nature but turn out to be more challenging and complex when you start to solve it. Example
- They are generally not as complex as a performance task which may require significant background context to complete. Example
Nanette Johnson, Robert Kaplinsky and Bryan Anderson