The Basics of Blooms Taxonomy of Questions
When it comes to educational learning and assessment, Blooms Taxonomy of Questions is one of the most widely used frameworks. It was developed by Benjamin Bloom, an American educational psychologist, in 1956. This framework is used to classify educational objectives into six distinct levels of cognitive complexity. It includes: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of Blooms Taxonomy and explain how it can be used to improve learning in the classroom.
What is Blooms Taxonomy?
Blooms Taxonomy is a cognitive process used to classify educational objectives into six levels of complexity. These levels are Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. This framework is widely used in education to help teachers create lesson plans that focus on higher-order thinking skills. In addition, it is used to create assessment items that measure student learning.
Knowledge
The first level of Bloom's Taxonomy is knowledge. This level is concerned with the recall and recognition of facts, terms, and basic concepts. It involves the ability to remember and recall information without any deep understanding or application. Examples of knowledge-level questions include: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? What is the capital of France?
Comprehension
The second level of Bloom's Taxonomy is comprehension. This level is concerned with understanding information. It involves the ability to interpret, extrapolate, and give meaning to facts and ideas. Comprehension-level questions typically require students to explain, summarize, or put information into their own words. Examples of comprehension-level questions include: Explain why the American Revolution started. Summarize the main points of the Declaration of Independence.
Application
The third level of Bloom's Taxonomy is application. This level is concerned with the ability to use facts, concepts, and theories to solve problems. It requires students to apply their knowledge to a new situation. Examples of application-level questions include: Use the Declaration of Independence to explain why the American Revolution started. Solve the following equation: 2x + 5 = 17.
Analysis
The fourth level of Bloom's Taxonomy is analysis. This level is concerned with breaking down information into its component parts. It requires students to identify the relationships between the parts and the whole. Examples of analysis-level questions include: Identify the main reasons why the American Revolution started. Analyze the structure of the Declaration of Independence.
Synthesis
The fifth level of Bloom's Taxonomy is synthesis. This level is concerned with the ability to combine parts into a new whole. It requires students to create something new. Examples of synthesis-level questions include: Create an argument in support of the American Revolution. Write a poem about the Declaration of Independence.
Evaluation
The sixth and final level of Bloom's Taxonomy is evaluation. This level is concerned with the ability to make judgments about the value of ideas or materials. It requires students to assess the quality of something based on criteria and standards. Examples of evaluation-level questions include: Evaluate the importance of the Declaration of Independence. Compare and contrast the American Revolution and the French Revolution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Blooms Taxonomy of Questions is a widely used framework for classifying educational objectives. It is used to create lesson plans and assessment items that focus on higher-order thinking skills. This framework includes six levels of cognitive complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Understanding and applying this framework can help teachers create effective learning experiences in the classroom.