Useful phrases for intended learning outcomes

Bloom’s taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy divides the way people learn into three domains. One of these is the cognitive domain that emphasizes intellectual outcomes. This domain is further divided into categories or levels. The key words used may aid in the establishment and encouragement of critical thinking, especially in the higher levels.

Level 1: Knowledge

- exhibits previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.

Key words: choose, find, how, define, label, show, spell, list, match, name, record, relate, recall, select, tell, underline

Level 2: Comprehension

- demonstrating understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions and stating main ideas.

Key words: classify, compare, contrast, demonstrate, describe, discuss, explain, express, extend, identify, illustrate, infer, interpret, locate, outline, recognize, relate, rephrase, report, restate, review, summarize, show, translate.

Level 3: Application

- solving problems by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way.

Key words: apply, build, choose, construct, develop, dramatize, experiment with, identify, illustrate, interview, make use of, model, operate, organize, plan, practice, schedule, select, solve, utilize.

Level 4: Analysis

- examining and breaking information into parts by identifying motives or causes; making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations.

Key words: appraise, analyse, assumption, calculate, categorize, classify, compare, conclusion, contrast, criticize, debate, diagram, differentiate, discover, dissect, distinction, distinguish, divide, examine, experiment, function, inference, inspect, list, motive, question, relate, simplify, solve, survey, take part in, test for, theme.

Level 5: Synthesis

- compiling information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions.

Key Words: adapt, arrange, assemble, build, change, choose, collect, combine, compile, compose, construct, create, delete, design, develop, discuss, elaborate, estimate, formulate, happen, imagine, improve, invent, make up, manage, minimize, maximize, modify, organize, original, originate, plan, predict, prepare, propose, set up, solve, solution, suppose, theorize, test

Level 6: Evaluation

- presenting and defending opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria.

Key Words: agree, appraise, assess, award, choose, compare, conclude, criteria, criticize, decide, deduct, defend, determine, disprove, dispute, estimate, evaluate, explain, importance, influence, judge, justify, interpret, measure, mark, opinion, perceive, prioritize, prove, rate, recommend, revise, rule on, select, support, value

Reference:

Quick Flip Questions for Critical Thinking, based on Bloom's Taxonomy and developed by Linda G. Barton