Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom's Taxonomy is a progressive model of thinking and learning used in my classroom for explanation and application of learning objectives and teaching and assessing learning outcomes.
I use the structure of Bloom's Taxonomy as a basis for unit planning and to structure lessons to ensure students move progressively through to higher order thinking as we progress through the content. The model also acts as a checklist that I can incorporate with other design principles to ensure I deliver relevant and meaningful activities and lessons to my students.
I use the structure of Bloom's Taxonomy as a basis for unit planning and to structure lessons to ensure students move progressively through to higher order thinking as we progress through the content. The model also acts as a checklist that I can incorporate with other design principles to ensure I deliver relevant and meaningful activities and lessons to my students.
Planning with Bloom's Taxonomy
The six cognitive skills are presented in the table below and are accompanied by:
- Sample action verbs that can be used in statements of student learning.
- Sample question prompts; and
- Potential classroom activities or student work products.
I use this table to assist me in creating classroom activities and assessments that align with the unit and lessons learning objectives and to scaffold student learning that progresses through the cognitive domain, from the simple recall or recognition of facts through increasingly more complex and abstract mental levels.
Using Bloom's Taxonomy in My Classroom
Below is an example of a classroom activity I designed for a Medieval History class that incorporated Bloom's Taxonomy.
This activity addressed the students' understandings and knowledge of how and why castles developed during the Middle Ages. Students were required to select and the most appropriate parts of a castle for defence, and then draw their castle. Part of this task included using colour and figures to show the advantages of the type of castle chosen.
This activity incorporated all of Bloom's levels of cognitive thinking; moving beyond the levels of remembering and understanding. It was an effective and creative way for students to apply their understandings and knowledge of the Medieval castles, which also required students analyse, synthesise and evaluate their understandings.