From Bloom, et al., 1956
As teachers we tend to ask questions in the “knowledge” category 80% to 90% of the time. These questions are not bad, but using them all the time is. Try to utilize higher order level of questions. These questions require much more “brain power” and a more extensive and elaborate answer. Below are the six question categories as defined by Bloom.
- KNOWLEDGE
- remembering;
- memorizing;
- recognizing;
- recalling identification and
- recall of information
- Who, what, when, where, how …?
- Describe
- COMPREHENSION
- interpreting;
- translating from one medium to another;
- describing in one’s own words;
- organization and selection of facts and ideas
- Retell…
- APPLICATION
- problem solving;
- applying information to produce some result;
- use of facts, rules and principles
- How is…an example of…?
- How is…related to…?
- Why is…significant?
- ANALYSIS
- subdividing something to show how it is put together;
- finding the underlying structure of a communication;
- identifying motives;
- separation of a whole into component parts
- What are the parts or features of…?
- Classify…according to…
- Outline/diagram…
- How does…compare/contrast with…?
- What evidence can you list for…?
- SYNTHESIS
- creating a unique, original product that may be in verbal form or may be a physical object;
- combination of ideas to form a new whole
- What would you predict/infer from…?
- What ideas can you add to…?
- How would you create/design a new…?
- What might happen if you combined…?
- What solutions would you suggest for…?
- EVALUATION
- making value decisions about issues;
- resolving controversies or differences of opinion;
- development of opinions, judgments or decisions
- Do you agree…?
- What do you think about…?
- What is the most important…?
- Place the following in order of priority…
- How would you decide about…?
- What criteria would you use to assess….
LEVELS OF COGNITIVE DOMAINS and its examples of behavioral objectives:
- Knowledge: arrange, define, duplicate, label, list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate, recall, repeat, reproduce, state.
- Comprehension: classify, describe, discuss, explain, express, identify, indicate, locate, recognize, report, restate, review, select, translate,
- Application: apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write.
- Analysis: analyze, appraise, calculate, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, and test.
- Synthesis: arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up, and write.
- Evaluation: appraise, argue, assess, attach, choose compare, defend estimate, judge, predict, rate, core, select, support, value, evaluate.
