Originated by Benjamin Bloom and collaborators in the 1950’s, Bloom’s Taxonomy serves many purposes. The Taxonomy provides a common language for instructors, provides guidance in determining the alignment of objectives, learning activities, and assessment, and assessing the breadth and depth of content within a course.
Cognitive objectives are statements of student outcomes, what learners are expected to learn or do in a lesson or module. They relate to understandings, awareness, insights (e.g., “Given a description of a planet, the student will be able to identify that planet, as demonstrated verbally or in writing, with 100% accuracy.” or “The student will be able to evaluate two different theories of the origin of the solar system as demonstrated by his/her ability to compare and discuss verbally or in writing the strengths and weaknesses of each theory.”). This includes knowledge or information recall, comprehension or conceptual understanding, the ability to apply knowledge, the ability to analyze a situation, the ability to synthesize information from a given situation, the ability to evaluate a given situation, and the ability to create something new.
Starting with basic factual knowledge, the categories progress through comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The revised taxonomy includes the following categories:
- Create – Putting materials together to form a unique product.
- Evaluate – Making judgments based on checking against given criteria.
- Analyze – Breaking materials into parts to determine structures and relationships.
- Apply – Using procedures to carry out a task.
- Understand – Constructing meaning from information.
- Remember – Using memory to recall facts and definitions.
Key Action Verbs and Examples for Each Level
Create
Putting materials together to form a unique product.
Example Questions:
- Organize the following: X,A,Q.
- Predict what will happen next.
- What solutions would you suggest for X?
- How would you design a new X?
Key Verbs: Arrange, Assemble, Collect, Compose, Construct, Create, Design, Develop, Formulate, Manage, Modify, Organize, Plan, Prepare, Produce, Propose, Predict, Reconstruct, Set-up, Synthesize, Systematize, Devise
Evaluate
Making judgments based on checking against given criteria
Example Questions:
- Compare and contrast X to Y.
- Select the best product.
- Critique the play.
- Judge the following in these merits: X, Y, Z.
Key Verbs: Appraise, Assess, Choose, Compare, Critique, Estimate, Evaluate, Judge, Measure, Rate, Score, Select, Validate, Value, Test
Analyze
Breaking materials into parts to determine structures and relationships.
Example Questions:
- What are the parts of X?
- Classify this according to X.
- Create an outline/concept map of X.
- Provide evidence that X is correct.
Key Verbs: Analyze, Appraise, Calculate, Categorize, Compare, Conclude, Contrast, Correlate, Criticize, Deduce, Debate, Detect, Determine, Develop, Diagram, Differentiate, Distinguish, Draw conclusions, Estimate, Examine, Experiment, Identify, Infer, Inspect, Inventory, Predict, Relate, Solve, Test, Diagnose
Apply
Using procedures to carry out a task.
Example Questions:
- How is X an example of Y?
- How is X related to Y?
- Why is X significant?
- Describe an example of when X happens.
Key Verbs: Apply, Demonstrate, Dramatize, Employ, Generalize, Illustrate, Interpret, Operate, Operationalize, Practice, Relate, Schedule, Use, Utilize, Initiate
Understand
Constructing meaning from information.
Example Questions:
- Re-tell X.
- What is the main idea of X?
- What differences exist between X AND Y?
- Write a brief outline.
Key Verbs: Cite examples of, Demonstrate use of, Describe, Determine, Differentiate between, Discriminate, Discuss, Explain, Express, Give in own words, Identify, Interpret, Locate, Pick, Report, Restate, Review, Recognize, Select, Tell, Translate, Respond, Practice, Simulates
Remember
Using memory to recall facts and definitions.
Example Questions:
- Who? What? Where? When? How?
- Describe X:
- What is X?
Key Verbs: Define, Identify, List, Name, Recall, Recognize, Record, Relate, Repeat, Underline/Circle