Having trouble on exams? Perhaps you are only learning the basics of the topic when you study to remember or memorize, rather when than understand the material on a deeper level. Depending on the type of test questions the professor asks on an exam, you may need to adapt your study skills to use higher order thinking skills. Understanding the depth of learning required in a class can help you during your long study sessions for midterms, exams, and other school work by helping identify if you need to solely recall a historical fact, or evaluate the impact an historical event had on society.
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a way to categorize the different types of behaviors people use when they learn. The base of the period (see the figure below) is the most introductory behavior. As you move up the pyramid, you use more higher level thinking skills. Creating is the highest of all the behaviors in Bloom’s Taxonomy, but like a pyramid relies on its base to be a strong foundation, in order to create something you first need to remember, understand, apply, analyze, and evaluate first. This chart will hopefully help you understand the depth of learning and thinking required as it applies to your studying, and gives some examples of the actions or words that imply the different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. The next time a test question asks you to compare and contrast a topic, you will know that you need to not only remember the topic, but also understand, apply, and analyze the topic to properly answer the question.

Tip: look at the questions your professors ask on a test, quiz, or assignment – what level of Bloom’s Taxonomy are they asking you to use? Can you just remember the facts, or do you need to learn a little more deeply to be able to understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, or create? If you see you need to know more than just the facts, you must adapt your study techniques to use higher order thinking skills.

Knowing more than just remembering can help you reach your academic goals. Being able to understand, apply, analyze, evaluate and create the topics you discuss in class will help you generate a fuller knowledge of the content!

Remembering: can the student recall or remember the information?	define, duplicate, list, memorize, recall, repeat, reproduce state
Understanding: can the student explain ideas or concepts?	classify, describe, discuss, explain, identify, locate, recognize, report, select, translate, paraphrase
Applying: can the student use the information in a new way?	choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write.
Analyzing: can the student distinguish between the different parts?	appraise, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test.
Evaluating: can the student justify a stand or decision?	appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, evaluate
Creating: can the student createnew product or point of view?	assemble, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, write.

http://ww2.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomy.htm

For more tips, check back every Wednesday morning!

As always, email us with any questions/concerns: CM.Pass@umb.edu