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Depth of Knowledge and Cognitive Demand

Andria DisneyInstructional Specialist

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Cognitive Demand in Problems Cognitive demand is a measure of what the

item requires. The context of the problem must be

considered to determine the cognitive demand--not just a look at which verb was used.

When examining the item, you must consider the stimulus, stem (question) and the answer choices.

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Cognitive Demand in Problems Cognitive demand requires looking at the

problem in order to determine the level. It is about the problem, not the student.

The level of cognitive demand is not affected by a student’s prior knowledge or his/her individual abilities.

You do need to consider the student’s experience with the content according to the standards.

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Depth of Knowledge (DOK)A Four Level System

Level 1 RecallLevel 2 Skill/ConceptLevel 3 Strategic ThinkingLevel 4 Extended Thinking

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Depth Of Knowledge

LEVEL

I

LEVEL

II

LEVEL

III

LEVEL

IV

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Recall Level 1 DOK 1 requires recall of information, such

as a fact, definition, term, or performance of a simple process or procedure.

Answering a Level 1 item can involve following a simple, well-known procedure or formula. Simple skills and abilities or recall characterize DOK 1.

This does not necessarily mean the question is simple.

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Skills/Concepts Level 2 DOK 2 includes the engagement of some

mental processing beyond recalling or reproducing a response. Items require students to make some decisions as to how to approach the question or problem.

Often requires interpreting. These actions imply more than one mental

or cognitive process/step.

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Strategic ThinkingLevel 3 DOK 3 requires deep understanding as

exhibited through planning, using evidence, and more demanding cognitive reasoning. The cognitive demands at Level 3 are complex and abstract.

An assessment item that requires students to justify the response they give would most likely be a Level 3. That justification needs to be strategic.

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Extended ThinkingLevel 4 DOK 4 requires high cognitive demand and

is very complex. Students are expected to make connections and relate ideas within the content or among content areas—and have to select or devise one approach among many alternatives on how the situation can be solved.

These are often non-routine problems. Due to the complexity of cognitive demand,

DOK 4 often requires an extended period of time to answer.

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Level 1: RecallFocus is on specific facts, definitions, details, or using routine proceduresCan be ‘difficult’ without requiring ‘deep’ content knowledge“You know it or you don’t”

Level 2: Skill/ConceptFocus is on applying skills and concepts, relationships (compare, cause-effect)Making decisions

Interpreting

Level 3: Strategic ReasoningFocus is on reasoning Complex and abstract thinking is requiredJustification

May need to experiment to find the solution

Level 4: Extended ReasoningRequires complex reasoning, planning, and thinkingRelate concepts among other content areas or within that content areaMake real-world applications in new situations

What DOK is it?Guiding Questions DOK 1: Is it naked content? Does it cue a

standard algorithm/procedure? DOK 2: Does it require interpretation? Does

it have many pathways? Is a decision made? Does it require multiple mental/cognitive steps?

DOK 3: Does it require justification, rationale, proof, explanation, or experimentation? Is it strategic?

DOK 4: Is it at least a Level 3? Does it require connections?

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Language Arts Guiding Questions

Can you find the answer directly in the passage/text? Does this require recall of types of language/terms/word meanings?=DOK1

Does it require finding/using cues in the context? Is this a summary, prediction (based on the text), comparison, interpreting?=DOK2

Is it inference? Is it a critique? Does the analysis require an explanation? Does it require considering alternate perspectives in the same piece?=DOK3

Does it ask about common themes across sources, analysis of multiple sources, or explaining alternate perspectives across sources (key words…MULTIPLE sources)?=DOK4

Adapted from Norman L. Webb & Nevada Department of Education (2002)

What DOK Level is it?Grade 5

What is the author’s purpose for writing this flyer?

A. To provide the reader information about canoes and kayaks.

B To persuade the reader to buy a canoe or kayak.C. To answer questions that readers have about how to

paddle.D. To teach the reader how to properly paddle a canoe or

kayak.

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 2. It requires interpretation and pulling

information from the stimulus and the answer choices.

If the question also asked how the author’s purpose affects a reader’s interpretation of the text, it would be a DOK 3.

What DOK Level is it?High School

While both texts are expository, Malcolm X uses a more narrative style. Which of the following techniques exemplifies a narrative style in this passage?

A. use of first person point of view and less formal languageB. use of third person point of view and formal languageC. use of first person point of view and formal languageD. use of third person point of view and less formal language

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 1. The question requires recall of the

characteristics of narrative style.

What DOK Level is it?Junior High

How did Thoreau and the Puri Indians interpret time similarly?

A They were meticulous in their time-keeping.B They often fretted over idleness and inactivity.C They viewed time as abundant and flowing.D They saw time’s passage as tumultuous.

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 2. It requires you to make a comparison.

If any of the phrases in the answer

choices were directly from the text, it would most likely lower the DOK to 1.

What DOK Level is it?Grade 1

Why did the author of this selection bold some words?

A. They are the easiest words to read.B. They are words that are important to know.C. They are words that mean the same thing. 

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 3. The answer choices provide strategic

reasoning as to why the author bolded the words.

What DOK Level is it?Grade 3

Think about the ways that the rajas have used elephants. Which animal have American pioneers used in a similar way?

A. SheepB. HorseC. ChickenD. Camel

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 2. It requires you to consider the

relationship between the use of elephants in India and Pakistan and animals used by American pioneers.

What DOK Level is it?Grade 3

How many people could you serve with this recipe?

 A. 7 peopleB. 10 peopleC. 8 peopleD. 17 people

Serves: about 7Serving size: about 10 chips and 1/2 c. of

salsa

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 1. The answer is found directly in the

text.

What DOK Level is it?High School

How can this selection best be characterized if one considers diction, tone, and rhetorical mode?

 A an articulate commentary of the American dreamB a paradoxical dialogueC an inferred appraisal of the new American nationD a discourse bent upon bettering European countriesE an amiable anecdote

What DOK Level is it? It is DOK 2. The student must make a decision

about which answer choice best characterizes diction, tone and rhetorical mode.

Conclusion… What will you take-away about DOK

and cognitive demand?

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