Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy (Bloom 1956) classifies thinking skills into six categories according to the following table.

High Order Thinking Skills
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
Low Order Thinking Skills

For each category a set of verbs is suggested to use with learning outcomes statements. A set of instructional strategies is suggested (Phillips 1994) for achieving the corresponding thinking skill. The following table (used with permission) shows the verbs with a yellow background and the instructional strategies with a green background. Acceptable verbs are not limited to those in the table.

 

 
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
   case studies
    projects
          exercises
        projects critiques
        problems simulations
        case studies appraisals
        creative exercises
EVALUATION
      problems develop plans judge
      exercises constructs appraise
      case studies simulations evaluate
    exercises critical incidents
SYNTHESIS
 rate
    practice discussion compose compare
    demonstrations questions plan value
  questions projects test propose revise
  discussion sketches
ANALYSIS
 design score
  review simulations distinguish formulate select
  test role play analyze arrange choose
  assessment microteach differentiate collect assess
  reports
APPLICATION
 appraise construct estimate
lecture learner interpret calculate create measure
visuals presentations apply experiment set up  
video writing employ test organize  
audio
COMPREHENSION
 use compare manage  
examples translate demonstrate contrast prepare  
illustrations restate dramatize criticize    
analogies discuss practice diagram    
KNOWLEDGE
 describe illustrate inspect    
define recognize operate debate    
repeat explain schedule enventory    
record express show question    
list identify sketch relate    
   
VERBS
    

References:
Bloom, B. (ed.). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals. Handbook 1: Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay, 1956.

Phillips, L. The Continuing Education Guide. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque, Iowa, 1994.

The Continuing Education Guide (ISBN: 0-7872-6907-7) is available for $24.95 plus shipping and can be ordered from Louis Phillips and Associates, 2858 Ashton Hill Dr., Dacula, GA 30019 or by email at louphil@bellsouth.net.