Bloom's Taxonomy Helps Teachers Focus On Higher Order Thinking In The Classroom

By:


Benjamin Bloom is the guru when it comes to distinguishing between lower and higher order thinking. Educators and those being trained in education are reminded of Bloom's taxonomy time and time again throughout their careers.

The first level of learning or thinking is knowledge based. Basically this means that people at this level are able to recall or recite basic knowledge. One example of this would be when students memorize spelling words, vocabulary definitions, or even multiplication facts.

The next level of thinking is comprehension. This requires understanding a concept to the point that a person can explain it in their own words to another person. One example of this is when a child is able to come home from school and tell his parents in detail about what was learned that day.

Application takes a person's thinking even further in depth. When people are thinking at this level, they are not only able to recall knowledge or explain what they've learned, but they are able to use this information in situations where it is applicable. An example of application is when a student learns how to multiply fractions and uses this knowledge to double a recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

One step up from application is analysis. This requires being able to break things up and study their individual parts. It also requires separating facts from inferences. One example of analyzing is when people are able to hear a claim and then look at specific details to figure out whether the claim is correct or not.

The process of synthesis is based upon putting components together instead of taking things apart like you would do in analysis. Synthesis is used anytime that a person is using knowledge to create new things. Synthesis happens when someone writes a poem or when a person comes up with a new invention. Anytime that something new is being created someone is participating in synthesis.

The king of thinking skills is evaluation. Evaluation involves making judgment calls based on knowledge that has been understood and analyzed. One example would be when people are working to decide on the best solution to a problem.

Bloom's taxonomy has laid the foundation for teaching around the world. Educators everywhere are doing everything they can to help kids get past simple memorization, and get them to the point where they are using higher order thinking skills like synthesis and evaluation on a regular basis.


About the Author:
(http://www.glnconsulting.info/) Benjamin Bloom is the guru when it comes to distinguishing between lower and higher order thinking.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent UnCategorized Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.