Bloom's Taxonomy
A framework, first proposed by Benjamin Bloom in 1956 and revised in 2001, that classifies learning into six levels, Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyse, Evaluate, Create, from simplest recall to most complex thinking.
The six levels
- Remember: recall facts and basic concepts.
- Understand: explain ideas in your own words.
- Apply: use information in a new situation.
- Analyse: break information into parts; see relationships.
- Evaluate: make a judgement based on criteria.
- Create: produce new or original work.
Why teachers use it
Bloom's Taxonomy helps teachers design questions and assessments that go beyond rote recall. A well-designed end-of-unit test will have questions at multiple levels, not all 'list five facts' (Remember), but also 'argue which character was right' (Evaluate) and 'design a new ending' (Create). NEP 2020 explicitly calls for higher-order thinking skills, which is Bloom-language for the top three levels.
What parents can ask
When you see your child's worksheet, look at the verbs in the questions. 'List, name, state, define' are lower-order. 'Compare, explain why, justify, design, create' are higher-order. A balanced mix is the marker of a thoughtfully designed school.
Related terms
Competency-Based Education
An approach where progress is measured by what a student can do, competencies and learning outcomes, rather than how much time they spent in class.
Socratic Method
A teaching technique based on rigorous questioning: the teacher asks open, probing questions rather than supplying answers, leading students to examine their own assumptions and reach understanding by reasoning.
Formative Assessment
Low-stakes, ongoing checks for understanding (think exit tickets, short quizzes, oral questions) used by teachers to adjust their next lesson.