What is Bloom's Taxonomy (Outcome Based Education) by Dr. Kamran Moosa

Summary

This educational script explores Bloom's cognitive domain, detailing six levels of learning: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. It emphasizes the progression from memorization to critical thinking and creativity, providing examples across various subjects like math, biology, and leadership. The script highlights the importance of reaching higher levels of understanding and application in real-life scenarios.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The cognitive domain is the most popular and widely used domain of learning, focusing on how we manipulate knowledge in our brain.
• 📚 It is divided into six levels of difficulty: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation.
• 📈 The Knowledge level is the lowest and involves memorization through rote learning.
• 🤔 Comprehension level requires logical understanding and reasoning ability, involving questions of 'why' rather than 'what'.
• 🛠️ Application level is about the ability to use knowledge in real-life situations.
• 🔍 Analysis level involves understanding how knowledge is linked and organized with its various constituents and other subjects.
• 🎨 Synthesis level is about creativity, building upon existing knowledge to create new ideas.
• 📊 Evaluation level is the highest level, where students can assess the merits and validity of information or ideas.
• 🌐 Examples provided include applying leadership principles in different scenarios, understanding math formulas, and analyzing growth rates.
• 📉 The majority of students may only reach the Knowledge level, with fewer progressing to Comprehension and Application levels.
• 🌟 The script emphasizes the importance of moving beyond rote memorization to higher levels of cognitive processing.

Q & A

What is the cognitive domain in education?

The cognitive domain is the most popular and widely used domain of learning, which involves the levels of difficulty in how we manipulate knowledge in our brain.

How many levels are there in the cognitive domain?

There are six levels of difficulty in the cognitive domain, ranging from knowledge to evaluation.

What is the lowest level of learning in the cognitive domain?

The lowest level of learning is called the knowledge level or information level, which involves memorization through rote learning.

What does the second level of the cognitive domain, comprehension, entail?

Comprehension, or the second level, involves logical understanding and reasoning ability, where students understand the subject matter with logic.

Can you provide an example of learning at the knowledge level?

An example of learning at the knowledge level is memorizing math formulas, names of medicines, or the names of cities or capitals of different countries.

What is the application level in the cognitive domain and how is it demonstrated?

The application level is the third level where students demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations, such as using leadership skills in various scenarios.

How is the analysis level different from the other levels in the cognitive domain?

The analysis level, the fourth level, involves understanding how knowledge is linked and organized with its various constituents and other subjects, and it requires critical thinking about causal factors.

What is synthesis in the context of the cognitive domain?

Synthesis, the fifth level, is about creativity or creating new ideas based on existing understanding, application, and analysis of the subject matter.

What does it mean to be at the evaluation level in the cognitive domain?

The evaluation level, the sixth and final level, is the ability to assess or evaluate the relative merits and validity of information or ideas.

Why is it important for students to progress beyond the knowledge level?

Progressing beyond the knowledge level is important because it allows students to develop higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, which are crucial for critical thinking and problem-solving.

Can you give an example of a question that tests a student's understanding at the synthesis level?

A question that tests a student's understanding at the synthesis level might be: 'How would you apply the principle of good leadership at your home or in your classroom?'