As educators it is our role to encourage our learners to become independent and questioning citizens of society.
To this end we need to guide our students towards a higher level of thinking and working.
Regarding Bloom’s Taxonomy, the obvious starting point with our students is to clarify their understanding – asking students to recall information that we have taught them and then begin to apply their learning. Carry out exercises to solidify their understanding.
That is a great way to direct their learning through topics and units however we also need to keep in mind how we are going to further develop our students’ learning in to a higher level.
This is where we start to progress further up to the top tiers of the Bloom’s Taxonomy model.
Once we have created a consistency in our classrooms where we encourage students to recall information and show their understanding, we then need to provide opportunities for some independent learning, where our students can begin to use analysis and evaluation skills.
This may be in an English lesson, where we ask our students to consider why writers have chosen certain language choices and evaluate the effect of those language choices.
In a science lesson, students may need to evaluate the results of an experiment and present their findings accordingly.
Initially we may need to support our students, perhaps by providing scaffolding, or a framework of questions/ideas to work through. However, we then need to develop this where students can ask questions and explore the answers, even question the answers.
It is very important that we encourage a culture of questioning in our classroom, moving beyond the basic skills of recall and understanding to a higher order of learning where we support our students.
Below is an idea of how we can use Bloom’s Taxonomy and move towards Higher level thinking with our students with critical thinking for themselves.
In the course Planning Lessons to Reach All Learners, we consider what makes a good lesson objective. Note that it is worth using the higher-level words from either the analysing, evaluating or creating levels in your lesson objectives to ensure that you are aiming high!
Improve your questioning skills with Teach2030
Questioning in the Classroom
The “Questioning in the Classroom” series will examine the significance of questioning and questioning techniques in our roles as educators. Questioning takes on a different perspective and emphasis, one in which we need to understand in detail to ensure it becomes an effective teaching tool for us.
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