Bloom's Taxonomy
Allen, Deborah;Tanner, Kimberly (2002). Approaches to Cell Biology Teaching: Questions about Questions. Cell Biology Education, vol.1, pg. 63-67.
Knowledge: The lowest level of the cognitive domain; recalling or recognizing previously learned ideas or phenomena in the approximate form in which they were learned.
Question cues:
list, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote, name, who, when, where, etc.
Example:
Name the six Kingdoms of living things.
Comprehension: Understanding the literal meaning of a communication, usually demonstrated by the ability to paraphrase or summarize, to predict consequences or effects, or to translate form one form to anther.
Question cues:
summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish, estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend
Example:
Describe how living things are classified into kingdoms.
Application: Selecting and using information in a new and concrete context.
Question cues:
apply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, solve, examine, modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discover
Example:
If a new life form were discovered, what process would you use to assign it to a kingdom?
Analysis: Breaking a concept, statement, or question into its components and explaining the relationships between the components and the organizational structures and principles involved.
Question cues:
analyze, separate, order, explain, connect, classify, arrange, divide, compare, select, explain, infer
Example:
How are fungi and plants similar to and different from each other?
Synthesis: Integrating and combining ideas to form a new product, pattern, plan, communication, or structure; solving problems involving creativity or originality.
Question cues:
combine, integrate, modify, rearrange, substitute, plan, create, design, invent, what if?, compose, formulate, prepare, generalize, rewrite
Example:
Develop a classification system for objects commonly found in your kitchen. State the rules of your classification system.
Evaluation: Highest level of learning results in the hierarchy. Using a specific set of internal or external criteria or standards to arrive at a reasoned judgment about the value of material for a given purpose.
Question cues:
assess, decide, rank, grade, test, measure, recommend, convince, select, judge, explain, discriminate, support, conclude, compare, summarize
Example:
Should the classification system of living things be based on their genetic similarities or their morphology/physiology? What are the reasons for your choice?
Bloom's Taxonomy and Critical Thinking