Bloom's Taxonomy

Definition

Bloom's Taxonomy is a hierarchical framework developed by Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues in the 1950s to classify educational learning objectives by levels of complexity and specificity. It provides a systematic way to think about learning goals, helping educators create clear, measurable, and achievable objectives that can guide curriculum development and assessment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Bloom's Taxonomy consists of six levels in the cognitive domain: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create.
2. The taxonomy helps teachers design lesson plans and assessments that align with the desired learning outcomes for students.
3. Revised versions of Bloom's Taxonomy have updated the original categories to include action verbs that better describe what students should be able to do.
4. Each level of Bloom's Taxonomy builds upon the previous one, encouraging deeper levels of understanding and mastery of content.
5. Using Bloom's Taxonomy can enhance differentiated instruction by allowing educators to tailor learning objectives to meet the diverse needs of students.

Review Questions

• How does Bloom's Taxonomy assist educators in developing effective learning objectives?
  • Bloom's Taxonomy provides a structured framework for educators to create clear and measurable learning objectives. By breaking down objectives into six levels of complexity, teachers can ensure that they address various cognitive skills, from basic recall of information to higher-order thinking such as analysis and creation. This systematic approach allows educators to tailor their instruction to meet different learning needs and promote deeper understanding.
• Compare and contrast the original and revised versions of Bloom's Taxonomy in terms of their application in education.
  • The original Bloom's Taxonomy categorized cognitive skills into six levels: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. The revised version updated these categories to Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create. The changes emphasize action-oriented verbs that clarify what students should accomplish at each level. Both versions serve the same purpose of guiding curriculum development but the revised version is more user-friendly for modern educational practices.
• Evaluate the impact of Bloom's Taxonomy on differentiated instruction and student assessment strategies.
  • Bloom's Taxonomy significantly influences differentiated instruction by enabling educators to design varied tasks and assessments that cater to students' diverse abilities. By providing a range of cognitive levels within its framework, teachers can create assignments that challenge all learners appropriately. Additionally, this taxonomy allows for more effective student assessment strategies by establishing clear expectations for performance at each cognitive level, ensuring that assessments align with specific learning goals.

Related terms

Learning Objectives: Specific statements that clearly define what students are expected to learn and achieve as a result of instruction.

Cognitive Domain: One of the three domains in Bloom's Taxonomy that focuses on intellectual skills, including remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.

Assessment: The process of evaluating student learning, skills, or performance, typically through various tools such as tests, quizzes, or projects.