building higher-level thinking skills in students
TRANSCRIPT
Building Higher-Level Thinking Skills in
StudentsA look at how to use Bloom’s Taxonomy to assess
& build higher-level thinking skills in students.
Just Learning Conference 2014Leigh Anne Toler
KIS Jejutolerpd.weebly.com
Monday, May 19, 14
Connecting to Jeff Utecht
✦ Student technology use today:✦ 90% consumption✦ 9% curation ✦ 1% creation
http://www.jeffutecht.com/jeju/Monday, May 19, 14
How can we change that?✦ By giving students opportunities to
CREATE
SYNTHESIZE
EVALUATE
PREDICT
ORGANIZE
APPLY
in our classrooms.
Monday, May 19, 14
Enduring Understandings:✦ The use of clear Command Terms build consistency across a school/
division/department/grade level and helps students understand what is expected of them on assessments.
✦ Effective (and consistent) use of Command Terms are helpful for an ELL population.
✦ Higher-level thinking skills are critical for success in the 21st Century.✦ Command Terms and Standards-Based Assessment are a perfect
match! The use of Command Terms will help teachers more accurately determine student achievement levels related to pre-defined academic standards.
✦ Designing units in a “layered” curriculum allows students to see how learning “builds” upon itself.
Monday, May 19, 14
Goals for today:✦ Understand key terms and concepts.✦ Identify “proficiency” command terms.✦ Classify command terms into Bloom’s Taxonomy.✦ Discuss/Suggest ways to utilize command terms on assessments
and activities.✦ Evaluate the benefit (or not) of using a “layered curriculum”
approach to unit design for your course. ✦ Design assessments, either formative or summative, or other
activities that utilize command terms within your class OR Design units in a layered curriculum approach.
Monday, May 19, 14
Key Concepts:
✦ Bloom’s Taxonomy✦ Command Terms✦ Layered Curriculum
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Bloom’s Taxonomy
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Key Concepts:✦ Command Terms are action verbs given to students to instruct
them on the task required of them. ✦ Command Terms indicate to students the depth of knowledge they
are asked to demonstrate.✦ Command Terms build higher-level thinking skills in students.✦ Command Terms help teachers more accurately assess student
knowledge.✦ EXAMPLES - Define, Describe, Name, Explain, Justify,
Create, Analyze, Distinguish, Exemplify, Contrast, Design, Interpret, Suggest, etc.
Monday, May 19, 14
Key Concepts:✦ Layered Curriculum - a curriculum-design process
created by Dr. Kathie Nunley that divides curriculum units into 3 “layers”:
✦ 1st layer = “Proficiency” layer - basic understanding of material
✦ 2nd layer = “Exceeds” layer - application and analysis of material
✦ 3rd layer = “Exemplary” layer - creation, evaluation, synthesis of material
✦ The Layered Curriculum and Command Terms align perfectly - Relevant Command Terms should be used on assessments within the appropriate layer.
✦ The Layered Curriculum is a way of building higher-level thinking skills in students.
✦ The Layered Curriculum challenges all students to think critically about course content, by “building them up” the learning process.
Monday, May 19, 14
Command Terms Activity✦ Group yourselves into small groups of 3-5 teachers.✦ One teacher per group should open their computer/iPad and
complete the following steps:1. Go to --> tolerpd.weebly.com.2. From the Home page, click on the Just Learning tab.3. Click on the “Command Terms Activity” button to
download the Pages document. (open in either Pages or Word)
✦ Work as a group to complete the activity using the instructions on the document.
✦ Time - 5 to 7 minutes.
Monday, May 19, 14
Command TermsProficient Exceeds Exemplary
Remembering & UnderstandingKnowledge & Comprehension
Score up to a 3
Applying & AnalyzingApplication & Analysis
Score up to a 4
Creating & EvaluatingSynthesis & Evaluation
Score up to a 5
NameState Identify Describe Define Estimate Outline Use Demonstrate Determine LabelList Recognize Show Summarize Recall Tell Select Match Find Rephrase Choose
Arrange Analyze Comment Account for Construct Suggest Distinguish Explain ArgueAnnotate Exemplify Formulate Interpret Investigate Infer Reflect Apply Model UtilizeSimplify Dissect Illustrate Classify
Deduce Assess Compare Contrast Discuss Evaluate Examine Synthesize Design JustifyPredictCombineSolve DevelopImprove Compose Prove
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Assessment Objectives - the goal of student demonstration
Assessment Objective Depth (BLOOM’s)
Proficientearning up to a 3
Exceedsearning up to a 4
Exemplaryearning up to a 5
These terms require students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding.
These terms require students to apply (use) & analyze knowledge & understanding.
These terms require students to evaluate & synthesize information, & form arguments
based on evidence.
Monday, May 19, 14
Command Terms & Standards-Based Assessment
✦ How can we match the Command Terms & Bloom’s Taxonomy to assessment? (KIS Jeju Specific)
3’s
4’s
5’s
Monday, May 19, 14
Connecting to Rubrics (KIS Jeju Specific)
Score Knowledge & Understanding Application & Analysis Synthesis & Evaluation
5 ACCURATE, RELEVANT knowledge and/or understanding demonstrated
ACCURATE, DETAILED application/analysis of relevant information
CLEAR, DEVELOPED synthesis/evaluation demonstrated
4 ACCURATE, RELEVANT knowledge and/or understanding demonstrated
ACCURATE, DETAILED application/analysis of relevant information
BASIC or INSUFFICIENT ATTEMPT to synthesize/evaluate information
3 ACCURATE, RELEVANT knowledge and/or understanding demonstrated
BASIC or INSUFFICIENT application/analysis of information
NO/INACCURATE ATTEMPT to synthesize/evaluate information
2 LITTLE relevant knowledge and/or understanding demonstrated
NO/INACCURATE ATTEMPT to apply/analyze information
NO/INACCURATE ATTEMPT to synthesize/evaluate information
1 NO relevant knowledge and/or understanding demonstrated
NO/INACCURATE ATTEMPT to apply/analyze information
NO/INACCURATE ATTEMPT to synthesize/evaluate information
Monday, May 19, 14
Other benefits of Command Terms:✦ Assessment method can be student choice!
✦ Once you teach students the various levels of learning, provide assessment opportunities that allow students to CHOOSE the level they want to demonstrate. This, along with giving students choice in HOW they demonstrate that knowledge, is an excellent way to DIFFERENTIATE for individual learners.
Monday, May 19, 14
Other benefits of Command Terms:✦ Assessment method can be student choice!
✦ Once you teach students the various levels of learning, provide assessment opportunities that allow students to CHOOSE the level they want to demonstrate. This, along with giving students choice in HOW they demonstrate that knowledge, is an excellent way to DIFFERENTIATE for individual learners.
✦ A PERFECT way to incorporate technology!
✦ Students can choose to demonstrate their learning by utilizing technology.
Monday, May 19, 14
Sample Assessments that work well with Command Terms:
✦ Formative:✦ Brain Massages, Exit Tickets, Discussions, Question-Generating &
Peer Quizzing, Surveys/Polls, Journal Prompts, Vocabulary Quizzes, One-on-One conversations, etc.
✦ Summative:✦ Tests, Projects, Debates, Socratic Seminars, etc.
✦ Other examples??
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Questions/Comments?
✦ Any Questions? Comments?
Monday, May 19, 14
Application & Creation!✦ Take the remainder of the session to take an
already-made assessment or unit plan and see if you can revise it using the Command Terms and/or Layered Curriculum approach.
Thank you for participating and allowing me to share!
Monday, May 19, 14