The heart of Bloom’s Taxonomy lies in its hierarchical organization of learning objectives, with each level building upon the previous ones. At the core of this taxonomy are the verbs that define the actions learners should be able to perform, demonstrating their comprehension and mastery of a subject. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the actionable verbs associated with each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, offering practical insights and examples to enhance your understanding and application of this powerful educational framework.
Navigating Bloom’s Taxonomy: A Hierarchical Journey
Bloom’s Taxonomy, a cornerstone in education, is a classification system that organizes learning objectives into hierarchical levels. It was initially developed in the 1950s by Benjamin Bloom, an educational psychologist, and his colleagues. The taxonomy has since undergone revisions, most notably by Lorin Anderson and David Krathwohl in the 2000s, to make it more applicable to the modern educational landscape.
The taxonomy is often visualized as a pyramid, with each level building upon the skills and knowledge acquired at the previous level. It consists of six main categories, often referred to as the “six domains” or “six levels” of cognitive learning:
- Remembering: Retrieving, recognizing, and recalling relevant knowledge.
- Understanding: Interpreting, exemplifying, classifying, summarizing, inferring, comparing, and explaining information.
- Applying: Executing or using information, knowledge, and skills.
- Analyzing: Breaking information into parts, determining how the parts relate to one another, and identifying motives or causes.
- Evaluating: Making judgments based on criteria and standards, checking and critiquing, and providing feedback.
- Creating: Putting elements together to form a coherent or functional whole, reorganizing elements into a new pattern or structure, generating new ideas, products, or ways of viewing things.
Actionable Verbs: The Language of Learning Objectives
Actionable verbs are the key to unlocking the potential of Bloom’s Taxonomy. These verbs define the specific actions or behaviors that learners should be able to demonstrate at each level of the taxonomy, providing a clear roadmap for both educators and students. Let’s explore each level in detail, uncovering the actionable verbs that define them:
Level 1: Remembering
The foundational level of Bloom’s Taxonomy focuses on the retrieval and recognition of information. Learners at this level should be able to recall facts, terms, concepts, and basic principles. The actionable verbs associated with this level include:
- Recite
- Recognize
- Recall
- Name
- Define
- Identify
- List
- State
Example: “Recall the key events leading up to the American Revolution.”
Level 2: Understanding
At this level, learners begin to interpret and explain information. They can demonstrate their understanding by classifying, summarizing, and comparing concepts. The actionable verbs for this level include:
- Interpret
- Summarize
- Explain
- Infer
- Classify
- Exemplify
- Restate
- Paraphrase
Example: “Explain the concept of natural selection using examples from the animal kingdom.”
Level 3: Applying
Moving up the taxonomy, learners at the Applying level can execute or use information, knowledge, and skills in new situations. They can apply theories, methods, and concepts to solve problems. The actionable verbs associated with this level are:
- Implement
- Apply
- Execute
- Use
- Solve
- Practice
- Demonstrate
- Illustrate
Example: “Apply the principles of supply and demand to predict the impact of a new tax on the market.”
Level 4: Analyzing
The Analyzing level involves critical thinking and the ability to break down information into its constituent parts. Learners at this level can determine how the parts relate to one another, identify motives or causes, and make inferences. The actionable verbs for this level include:
- Analyze
- Break down
- Categorize
- Compare
- Contrast
- Diagram
- Infer
- Relate
Example: “Analyze the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet and identify the key themes.”
Level 5: Evaluating
At the Evaluating level, learners can make judgments based on criteria and standards. They can critique, provide feedback, and make recommendations. The actionable verbs associated with this level are:
- Evaluate
- Judge
- Critique
- Assess
- Rank
- Rate
- Justify
- Recommend
Example: “Evaluate the effectiveness of a public health campaign and propose improvements.”
Level 6: Creating
The pinnacle of Bloom’s Taxonomy, the Creating level, involves the highest level of cognitive learning. Learners at this level can synthesize information, create new ideas, and develop unique solutions. The actionable verbs for this level include:
- Create
- Design
- Develop
- Invent
- Compose
- Produce
- Plan
- Propose
Example: “Develop a marketing strategy for a new product, considering target audience, pricing, and distribution channels.”
Practical Applications: Integrating Actionable Verbs into Learning Objectives
Now that we have explored the actionable verbs associated with each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, let’s look at how these verbs can be integrated into learning objectives to create meaningful and achievable goals for learners.
Level 1: Remembering
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to recall the key dates and events of World War II.”
Actionable Verb: Recall
Assessment: A multiple-choice quiz testing students’ knowledge of significant dates and events.
Level 2: Understanding
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to explain the concept of gravity using simple language and provide examples from everyday life.”
Actionable Verb: Explain
Assessment: A written essay or video presentation explaining the concept of gravity.
Level 3: Applying
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to apply the principles of physics to design a simple machine that can perform a specific task.”
Actionable Verb: Apply
Assessment: A practical test where students demonstrate their machine in action.
Level 4: Analyzing
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to analyze the causes and consequences of the French Revolution, identifying key factors that led to its success.”
Actionable Verb: Analyze
Assessment: A written report or class presentation breaking down the factors that contributed to the French Revolution.
Level 5: Evaluating
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different study techniques and propose the most suitable methods for their learning style.”
Actionable Verb: Evaluate
Assessment: A self-reflection journal or group discussion where students critique and recommend study techniques.
Level 6: Creating
Learning Objective: “Students will be able to create a unique art piece inspired by a specific cultural movement, demonstrating an understanding of its key characteristics.”
Actionable Verb: Create
Assessment: An art exhibition where students present their original artworks and explain their inspiration and techniques.
Conclusion: Empowering Educators and Learners
Bloom’s Taxonomy, with its actionable verbs, provides a powerful framework for educators to design meaningful learning experiences and for learners to understand their progress and goals. By aligning learning objectives with the appropriate level of the taxonomy and using the associated actionable verbs, educators can create engaging and challenging lessons that foster deep understanding and higher-order thinking skills.
In the pursuit of excellence in education, mastering Bloom’s Taxonomy is a crucial step towards empowering both educators and learners to achieve their full potential.
As you embark on your journey to master Bloom’s Taxonomy, remember that the taxonomy is a dynamic tool, adaptable to various educational contexts and subject matters. The actionable verbs provided here serve as a guide, but feel free to explore and adapt them to suit your unique teaching and learning needs.
Bloom’s Taxonomy, with its actionable verbs, is a versatile framework that can enhance the educational experience, empowering educators and learners to achieve excellence through structured and meaningful learning objectives.
