Scaling the Pyramid:The pursuit of higher order thinking skillsPresented by Nathan Groff
What is learning?• Maybe it sounds like too simple a question.
• But it is a question educators should also be returning to.
– A permanent change in behavior.– Memorization of information.– Mastery of a practical skill.– Development of an understanding.– A social process / socialization.– Ability to empathize with a situation.– Awareness of a viewpoint.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
• Benjamin Bloom• Directed a research team• 1956• “Taxonomy of educational
objectives: the classification of educational goals”
• It is a classification of learning objectives
3 Domains
Leveled Domains
Cognitive Domain
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
1. Knowledge2. Comprehension3. Application4. Analysis5. Synthesis6. Evaluation
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
1. Knowledge:
Recall or locate information.
Remember, recall, recognize.
Multiple choice questions; recall questions
1. Knowledge
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
2. Comprehension:
Understand “learned” facts.
Explain; define; illustrate; translate
Explain in your own words; cloze; translate a sentence
2. Comprehension• Describe Bloom’s taxonomy.
• Explain the 6 levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
3. Application:
Apply what has been learned to new situations.
Using; implementing
Giving examples; make a conclusion; choosing an appropriate formula
3. Application• Use Bloom’s taxonomy to write learning objectives.
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
4. Analysis:
“Take apart” information to examine different parts.
Correct, relate, differentiate, arrange, categorize, detect, compare.
Sentence diagramming; error correction; organizing or categorizing
4. Analysis• Use Bloom’s taxonomy to evaluate learning objectives.
• Compare Bloom’s taxonomy to different theories of learning. (i.e. Behaviorism, Operant conditions, etc.)
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
5. Synthesis:Create or invent something; bring together more than one idea. (higher level application)
Produce, propose, design, plan, combine, formulate, compose, hypothesize, construct
Mind mapping; designing; making a business plan; composing; formulate a theory (like an opinion essay, thesis paper, or dissertation
5. Synthesis• Combine Bloom’s taxonomy with another cognitive theory to
create a more comprehensive theory of thinking processes.
6 Levels of Cognitive Processes
6. Evaluation:
Consider evidence used to support conclusion. (higher level analysis)
Appraise, judge, criticize, decide.
Judging (like in a music contest); defend (a thesis, etc.)
6. Evaluation• Evaluate Bloom’s taxonomy in light of recent research in
cognitive development.
Lower Order Thinking Skills
1. Knowledge: You know/remember the information
2. Comprehension: You understand or can explain the information (surface)
3. Application: You can use or apply the information (simple or straight forward situations)
4. ** Analysis
** There is debate about whether ‘analysis’ should be placed in the lower or higher order.
Higher Order Thinking Skills
4. Analysis: You can analyze, breakdown and organize information, concepts, etc.
5. Synthesis: You can synthesize many different concepts, pieces of information, etc.
6. Evaluation: You can judge or defend the validity of a concept, thesis, etc.
*** Sometimes the highest level is labeled “creativity”.
Another version – Equality of H.O.T.S.
A revision of the domains
Conclusion• Student learning is the goal.
• How can we enable student to learn better?
• How can we teach students to think at higher levels?
• Using learning objectives is a key method.
• Bloom’s taxonomy is an excellent tool for designing learning objectives …… and for helping both educators and students understand the process of higher order thinking.
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