Bloom's taxonomy
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Write Goals and Outcomes Statements
Source: (http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/guides/bloom1.html)
NOTE: the following applies only to the “cognitive domain”. Benjamin
Bloom and his colleagues also developed taxonomies of the Affective Domain
(emphasizing feeling and emotion) and the Psychomotor Domain
(emphasizing motor skills). For descriptions of all three taxonomies, see this
University of Mississippi School of Education web page:
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/educ_school2/docs/stai_manual/manual8.htm
Categories in the Cognitive Domain: (with Outcome-Illustrating Verbs)
1. Knowledge of terminology; specific facts; ways and means of dealing
with specifics (conventions, trends and sequences, classifications and
categories, criteria, methodology); universals and abstractions in a field
(principles and generalizations, theories and structures):
Knowledge is (here) defined as the remembering (recalling) of
appropriate, previously learned information
defines; describes; enumerates; identifies; labels; lists; matches;names; reads; records; reproduces; selects; states; views.
2. Comprehension: Grasping (understanding) the meaning of informational
materials.
classifies; cites; converts; describes; discusses; estimates; explains;generalizes; gives examples; makes sense out of; paraphrases; restates (in own words); summarizes; traces; understands.
3. Application: The use of previously learned information in new and
concrete situations to solve problems that have single or best answers.
acts; administers; articulates; assesses; charts; collects; computes;constructs; contributes; controls; determines; develops; discovers;establishes; extends; implements; includes; informs; instructs;operationalizes; participates; predicts; prepares; preserves; produces; projects; provides; relates; reports; shows; solves;teaches; transfers; uses; utilizes.
4. Analysis: The breaking down of informational materials into their
component parts, examining (and trying to understand the organizational
structure of) such information to develop divergent conclusions by
identifying motives or causes, making inferences, and/or finding evidence
to support generalizations.
breaks down; correlates; diagrams; differentiates; discriminates; distinguishes; focuses; illustrates; infers; limits; outlines; points out; prioritizes; recognizes; separates; subdivides.
5. Synthesis: Creatively or divergently applying prior knowledge and skills
to produce a new or original whole.
adapts; anticipates; categorizes; collaborates; combines;communicates; compares; compiles; composes; contrasts; creates; designs; devises; expresses; facilitates; formulates; generates; incorporates; individualizes; initiates; integrates; intervenes; models; modifies; negotiates; plans; progresses; rearranges; reconstructs; reinforces; reorganizes; revises; structures; substitutes; validates.
6. Evaluation: Judging the value of material based on personal
values/opinions, resulting in an end product, with a given purpose, without
real right or wrong answers.
appraises; compares & contrasts; concludes; criticizes; critiques; decides; defends; interprets; judges; justifies; reframes; supports.
The following provides useful examples of descriptive language representing the same
cognitive hierarchy of assessment verbs:
Knowledge: Cite, Count, Define, Draw, Identify, List, Name, Point, Quote, Read, Recite, Record, Repeat, Select, State, Tabulate, Tell, Trace, Underline
Comprehension: Associate, Classify, Compare, Compute, Contrast, Differentiate, Discuss,
Distinguish, Estimate, Explain, Express, Extrapolate, Interpolate, Locate, Predict, Report, Restate, Review, Tell, Translate
Application: Apply, Calculate, Classify, Demonstrate, Determine, Dramatize, Employ, Examine, Illustrate, Interpret, Locate, Operate, Order, Practice, Report, Restructure, Schedule, Sketch, Solve, Translate, Use, Write
Analysis: Analyze, Appraise, Calculate, Categorize, Classify, Compare, Debate, Diagram
Differentiate, Distinguish, Examine, Experiment, Identify, Inspect, Inventory, Question, Separate, Summarize, Test, Synthesis, Arrange, Assemble, Collect, Compose, Construct, Create, Design, Formulate, Integrate, Manage, Organize, Plan, Prepare, Prescribe, Produce, Propose, Specify, Synthesize, Write
Evaluation: Appraise, Assess, Choose, Compare, Criticize, Determine, Estimate, Evaluate,
Grade, Judge, Measure, Rank, Rate, Recommend, Revise, Score, Select, Standardize, Test, Validate