By: Dr. Meghan Benavides
When I meet with new students and discuss their study habits, one common refrain is, “I study so hard, but I just can’t do well on the tests!” This disconnect between effort and results can have a wide range of causes. Today, however, I want to explore Bloom’s Taxonomy as a way to study smarter and not harder so you can achieve your academic goals.
What is Bloom’s Taxonomy?
Bloom’s taxonomy is one of the first concepts you learn when studying to be a teacher in Education 101. Generally shown as a pyramid, it gives a framework to learn and think more deeply. Teachers and curriculum writers try to move students up the taxonomy from the lowest levels of thinking (remember) to the highest levels of thinking (create). To illustrate, I am going to use volume of 3D shapes to demonstrate different levels of understanding.
Remember
Remembering involves memorizing concepts. This type of studying is best for foreign language translations, grammar concepts, math fluency facts, and vocabulary. For example, when studying the volume of 3D shapes you might need to memorize words like “volume,” “radius,” “height,” and “prism.” You may also need to memorize formulas like the volume of a cone = πr2(h/3).
“Remembering” and memorizing are the most common forms of studying that I see in my practice. This involves flipping through flashcards, playing a matching review game, or re-reading your notes. This type of review is important to start with, it helps you build up the information you need for other types of thinking; however, it is important that you not spend all or most of your study time in this phase.
Understand
Understanding moves beyond answering the question “what” to the question “why.” In this phase of thinking, you can understand why something works. This type of studying is important for building on what you already know and pushing what you are learning to long-term memory. For example, if we are studying the volume of 3D shapes this moves beyond memorizing the algorithm for calculating the volume of a rectangular prism (l x w x h). We now move into understanding why this algorithm works. We are essentially measuring the unit cubes that fit along the length, then the width and the height. Our units are cubed because we are looking at three dimensions.
Understanding strategies involves explaining something to a friend, teaching a concept to yourself in an empty classroom, or writing summaries. If you have a lot of t-charts (two columns with a bunch of characteristics under each header), I recommend making a copy, cutting apart the graphic organizer and practice putting it back together, sorting the characteristics under the correct header.
Apply
Applying means using a concept in context. We not only remember and understand it, but we can also use it in practice. In our studying the volume of 3D shapes example, this would involve working through practice problems using different formulas that you have memorized. It would involve calculating the volume of objects that you see around you or real situations in your life that involve calculating volume.
You can apply your concept by going through practice questions, drawing pictures that go with your concepts, or creating a graphic to explain a concept. One of my personal favorite ways to add “applying” to my study regimen is to take my flashcards and apply them to random posts on social media or commercials on television. With my own students, I have them take their flashcards and have a conversation; in each sentence they say, they must use the top word on their deck of flashcards. If they use it successfully, they move the word to the bottom of the deck and continue with the next word. For students who are artistic, I recommend creating letters that embody that word or illustrations to accompany what you need to memorize.
Analyze
Analyzing is about making connections between two concepts or a concept and something else in the world around you. For example, when studying literature, you can elevate your thinking by comparing your text with another or a character’s experiences with your own.
One way to move from applying to analyzing is take your deck of flashcards and try to sort them into categories. This may also look like sorting the problems you got wrong into the types of errors that you commonly make when doing this type of math. In our 3D volume example, this might look like making a copy of all your homework for the unit, then sitting down and categorizing different types of problems, identifying the different algorithms and processes you used to solve. For example, you might connect that the volumes of cylinders and spheres both involve pi. This makes sense because pi is a ratio for circles and both have rounded shapes.
Evaluate
In the evaluate level of thinking, you can use what you know about a concept to make judgments. In this phase, you can develop your own opinions. You can look at a problem someone else solved incorrectly and identify where their process fell apart. For example, in our analogy of finding the volume of 3D shapes, you might look at a friend’s errors and realize that when finding the volume of a cylinder they calculated the circumference of the top and bottom faces, not the area.
One of the easiest ways to “evaluate” in your studying is with different fiction texts. Ask yourself: What would you do to improve this text? Do you think how readers perceive this text has changed over time? Is the author’s writing effective in conveying the message that they want to convey? Having debates about whatever you are studying with a friend can help poke holes in your thinking and help you identify gaps in your understanding.
Create
In the “create” level of Bloom’s taxonomy, you are using the knowledge you have acquired to make something new. In school, teachers push students to this level of thinking with projects. The easiest way to include “creating” into your study habits is to write about what you are studying either in the form of creating your own practice problems or journaling about a topi.
In our volume of 3D shapes example, this would involve creating your own complex word problem using a situation in your real life. Not only are you pushing yourself to create and solve, but you are also applying the knowledge to your real-life circumstances making your brain understand that this information is important to remember.
Are you or someone you know navigating a learning difference? Do you want creative and effective strategies to improve your executive functioning or studying? Consider scheduling a consultation with us today to see how we can be a part of your journey to academic success.