Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy

Dr. MiddlebrooksDr. Middlebrooks

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy In 1956, Benjamin Bloom headed a In 1956, Benjamin Bloom headed a

group of educational psychologists group of educational psychologists who developed a classification of who developed a classification of levels of intellectual behavior levels of intellectual behavior important in learning. Bloom found important in learning. Bloom found that over 95 % of the test questions that over 95 % of the test questions students encounter require them to students encounter require them to think only at the lowest possible think only at the lowest possible level...the recall of information. level...the recall of information.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyBloom identified six levels within the Bloom identified six levels within the

cognitive domain, from the simple cognitive domain, from the simple recall or recognition of facts, as the recall or recognition of facts, as the lowest level, through increasingly lowest level, through increasingly more complex and abstract mental more complex and abstract mental levels, to the highest order which is levels, to the highest order which is classified as evaluation. Verb classified as evaluation. Verb examples that represent intellectual examples that represent intellectual activity on each level are listed here. activity on each level are listed here.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy KnowledgeKnowledge: arrange, define, duplicate, : arrange, define, duplicate,

label, list, memorize, name, order, label, list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate, recall, repeat, reproduce recognize, relate, recall, repeat, reproduce state. state.

ComprehensionComprehension: classify, describe, discuss, : classify, describe, discuss, explain, express, identify, indicate, locate, explain, express, identify, indicate, locate, recognize, report, restate, review, select, recognize, report, restate, review, select, translate, translate,

ApplicationApplication: apply, choose, demonstrate, : apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write. use, write.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyAnalysisAnalysis: analyze, appraise, calculate, : analyze, appraise, calculate,

categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test. examine, experiment, question, test.

SynthesisSynthesis: arrange, assemble, collect, : arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, manage, organize, develop, formulate, manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up, write. plan, prepare, propose, set up, write.

EvaluationEvaluation: appraise, argue, assess, : appraise, argue, assess, attach, choose compare, defend estimate, attach, choose compare, defend estimate, judge, predict, rate, core, select, support, judge, predict, rate, core, select, support, value, evaluate. value, evaluate.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyAs teachers we tend to ask questions in As teachers we tend to ask questions in

the "knowledge" category 80% to 90% of the "knowledge" category 80% to 90% of the time. These questions are not bad, the time. These questions are not bad, but using them all the time is. Try to but using them all the time is. Try to utilize higher order level of questions. utilize higher order level of questions. These questions require much more These questions require much more "brain power" and a more extensive and "brain power" and a more extensive and elaborate answer. Below are the six elaborate answer. Below are the six question categories as defined by Bloom. question categories as defined by Bloom.

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyKNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE remembering; remembering; memorizing; memorizing; recognizing; recognizing; recalling identification and recalling identification and recall of information recall of information

Who, what, when, where, how ...? Who, what, when, where, how ...? Describe Describe

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyCOMPREHENSION COMPREHENSION interpreting; interpreting; translating from one medium to translating from one medium to

another; another; describing in one's own words; describing in one's own words; organization and selection of facts organization and selection of facts

and ideas and ideas Retell... Retell...

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyAPPLICATION APPLICATION problem solving; problem solving; applying information to produce applying information to produce

some result; some result; use of facts, rules and principles use of facts, rules and principles

How is...an example of...? How is...an example of...? How is...related to...? How is...related to...? Why is...significant? Why is...significant?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy ANALYSISANALYSIS subdividing something to show how it is put subdividing something to show how it is put

together; together; finding the underlying structure of a finding the underlying structure of a

communication; communication; identifying motives; identifying motives; separation of a whole into component parts separation of a whole into component parts

What are the parts or features of...? What are the parts or features of...? Classify...according to... Classify...according to... Outline/diagram... Outline/diagram... How does...compare/contrast with...? How does...compare/contrast with...? What evidence can you list for...? What evidence can you list for...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy SYNTHESISSYNTHESIS creating a unique, original product that creating a unique, original product that

may be in verbal form or may be a physical may be in verbal form or may be a physical object; object;

combination of ideas to form a new whole combination of ideas to form a new whole What would you predict/infer from...? What would you predict/infer from...? What ideas can you add to...? What ideas can you add to...? How would you create/design a new...? How would you create/design a new...? What might happen if you combined...? What might happen if you combined...? What solutions would you suggest for...? What solutions would you suggest for...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy EVALUATIONEVALUATION making value decisions about issues; making value decisions about issues; resolving controversies or differences of resolving controversies or differences of

opinion; opinion; development of opinions, judgements or development of opinions, judgements or

decisions decisions Do you agree...? Do you agree...? What do you think about...? What do you think about...? What is the most important...? What is the most important...? Place the following in order of priority... Place the following in order of priority... How would you decide about...? How would you decide about...? What criteria would you use to assess...? What criteria would you use to assess...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these?

What happened after...?What happened after...?How many...?How many...?Who was it that...?Who was it that...?Can you name the...?Can you name the...?Describe what happened at...?Describe what happened at...?Who spoke to...?Who spoke to...?Can you tell why...?Can you tell why...?Find the meaning of...?Find the meaning of...?What is...?What is...?Which is true or false...? Which is true or false...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyKnowledgeKnowledge

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these?

Is there a better solution to...Is there a better solution to...Judge the value of...Judge the value of...Can you defend your position about...?Can you defend your position about...?Do you think ... is a good or a bad thing?Do you think ... is a good or a bad thing?How would you have handled...?How would you have handled...?What changes to ... would you recommend?What changes to ... would you recommend?Do you believe?Do you believe?Are you a ... person?Are you a ... person?How would you feel if...?How would you feel if...?How effective are...?How effective are...?What do you think about...? What do you think about...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyEvaluation Evaluation

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these?

Which events could have happened...?Which events could have happened...?I ... happened, what might the ending have been?I ... happened, what might the ending have been?How was this similar to...?How was this similar to...?What was the underlying theme of...?What was the underlying theme of...?What do you see as other possible outcomes?What do you see as other possible outcomes?Why did ... changes occur?Why did ... changes occur?Can you compare your ... with that presented in...?Can you compare your ... with that presented in...?Can you explain what must have happened when...?Can you explain what must have happened when...?How is ... similar to ...?How is ... similar to ...?What are some of the problems of...?What are some of the problems of...?Can you distinguish between...?Can you distinguish between...?What were some of the motives behind...?What were some of the motives behind...?What was the turning point in the game?What was the turning point in the game?What was the problem with...? What was the problem with...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyAnalysis Analysis

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these?

Can you design a ... to ...?Can you design a ... to ...?Why not compose a song about...?Why not compose a song about...?Can you see a possible solution to...?Can you see a possible solution to...?If you had access to all resources how would you If you had access to all resources how would you deal with...?deal with...?Why don't you devise your own way to deal with...?Why don't you devise your own way to deal with...?What would happen if...?What would happen if...?How many ways can you...?How many ways can you...?Can you create new and unusual uses for...?Can you create new and unusual uses for...?Can you write a new recipe for a tasty dish?Can you write a new recipe for a tasty dish?can you develop a proposal which would... can you develop a proposal which would...

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomySynthesis Synthesis

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these? Do you know another instance where...?Do you know another instance where...?

Could this have happened in...?Could this have happened in...?Can you group by characteristics such as...?Can you group by characteristics such as...?What factors would you change if...?What factors would you change if...?Can you apply the method used to some Can you apply the method used to some experience of your own...?experience of your own...?What questions would you ask of...?What questions would you ask of...?From the information given, can you develop From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about...?a set of instructions about...?Would this information be useful if you had Would this information be useful if you had a ...? a ...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyApplicationApplication

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy What type of questions are these?What type of questions are these?

Can you write in your own words...?Can you write in your own words...?Can you write a brief outline...?Can you write a brief outline...?What do you think could of happened next...?What do you think could of happened next...?Who do you think...?Who do you think...?What was the main idea...?What was the main idea...?Who was the key character...?Who was the key character...?Can you distinguish between...?Can you distinguish between...?What differences exist between...?What differences exist between...?Can you provide an example of what you mean...?Can you provide an example of what you mean...?Can you provide a definition for...? Can you provide a definition for...?

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyComprehensionComprehension

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyFlower Anatomy ActivityFlower Anatomy Activity

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s TaxonomyDalton, J. & Smith, D. (1986) Dalton, J. & Smith, D. (1986)

“Extending Children’s Special “Extending Children’s Special Abilities – Strategies for primary Abilities – Strategies for primary classrooms”  pp36-7 classrooms”  pp36-7