Technology In Class

Remember Bloom’s Taxonomy?

You probably remember Bloom’s Taxonomyin undergraduate or graduate work.  Benjamin Bloom (1913-1999) is mostly recognized for his work with teachers and how they create instructional goals and objectives. Bloom stressed that teachers should ask students to think at higher levels, and we as teachers can use different types of questions and verbs that will challenge students to think at higher levels when appropriate. Bloom created the following six levels of thinking, which teachers can incorporate into almost any assignment or assessment.

The goal is to have students use levels 4, 5, and 6, which Bloom describes as the higher levels of thinking. Furthermore, not all activities require the highest level of thinking skills–sometimes Level 2 or even 1 may be necessary.

Level 1 Knowledge: teachers ask students to recall learned information, often to learn factual information. Verbs a teacher uses are usually similar to the following: how many, when, tell, identify, list, name, locate, and find.

Level 2 Comprehension: students are asked to find meaning and infer cause and consequence. Verbs that a teacher uses are similar to the following: compare, predict, order, summarize, explain, group, contrast, and discuss.

Level 3 Application: in this level students are asked to use learned information to new situations. Verbs that a teacher can use are similar to: apply, demonstrate, modify, produce, transfer, experiment, develop, and relate.

Level 4 Analysis: in this level students are asked to break down information and recognize patterns. Verbs that teachers use are similar to: analyze, separate, explain, classify, arrange, differences, and compare.

Level 5 Synthesis: students are asked to create new ideas,predict, and draw conclusions. Verbs that teachers use include: compose, modify, invent, speculate, desugn, collaborate, adapt, anticipate, and combine.

Level 6 Evaluation: students are encouraged to make choices that aren’t necessarily answered with right and wrong answers. Verbs that teachers are encouraged to use may include: judge, assess, criticize, summarize, test, defend, and justify.

I have tried adjusting an assessment that uses Level 1 verbs with Level 2.  I can say that I see more students with that “thinking” look on their face.  For that alone I’m going to continue requiring higher level thinking when appropriate.

Related posts:

1. Students’ Best Interest
2. Helping Kids to Predict Outcomes
3. Returninig Assignments 101
4. Why Thinking Always Wins
5. Grades Shouldn’t Motivate Students. Engaging Instruction Should.