Bloom's Taxonomy is the key to engaging in higher-order thinking, which encompasses analyzing and evaluating, which ultimately fill out the lower-order skills of understanding and memorization.

In other words, you “skip” memorization when you operate in the higher order thinking zone.

Think of it as a toolkit that empowers you to construct a solid base for further learning.

The taxonomy is divided into six hierarchical levels, each representing a different cognitive skill set:

Lower-order learning (remembering, understanding, and applying)

Higher-order learning (analyzing, evaluating, and creating)

Here’s a brief explanation:

• Remembering, involves recalling facts and information
• Understanding takes us a step further by comprehending the meaning concepts
• Applying means how the concept is applied in multiple situations.
• Analyzing is breaking concepts down to identify patterns, trends and connecting the dots.
• Evaluating is analyzing but more judemental. You are critically assessing the value and importance of the knowledge.
• Creating is the pinnacle, where you are working at the front tier of knowledge. Finding new discoveries.

<aside> 💡 Rules of thumb to remember:

• Always aim for HOTs
• Aim for HOTs to automatically fill the LOTs.
• HOTS is supposed to make you feel overwhelmed, confused, and draining.
• Only use LOTs for the arbitrary info that can’t be connected. </aside>

Action steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with the six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy

2. Take a moment to assess your current learning methods and identify where each method stands.

Example: What level would flashcards be on? How about practice problems? Teaching? Are they helping you operate in higher order thinking or lower order?

3. While studying a subject, challenge yourself to always move beyond basics remembering and understanding.

When done correctly, the bloom Taxonomy helps you advance in the Solo Taxonomy…

Let me explain:

Solo Taxonomy - The House.