Books on Bloom’s Taxonomy is the topic of our blog post today!
First proposed by Benjamin Bloom in 1956, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a hierarchical model used to classify educational learning objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. This taxonomy, with its six cognitive processes – knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation – remains a cornerstone in modern education. It provides a structured approach that educators can use to design effective lesson plans, assessments, and learning activities, enhancing both teaching and learning experiences.
But why is Bloom’s Taxonomy so crucial in education? As educators, we aim to facilitate not only the absorption of information but also the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Bloom’s Taxonomy supports this goal by offering a scaffolded approach to learning, allowing students to build upon their knowledge and gradually develop higher-order cognitive skills.
However, truly unlocking the potential of Bloom’s Taxonomy requires more than a passing acquaintance. It needs a deep dive into the intricacies and applications of the framework. That’s where the following collection of books comes into play. From understanding the basics to exploring advanced applications in the classroom, these books offer valuable insights for both new and experienced educators.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Books
To learn more about Bloom’s taxonomy and how to effectively integrate it in your teaching practice, check out this collection of key readings:
1. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Write Effective Learning Objectives, by Dr. Edmund Bilon
This book serves as a guide for educators in understanding and writing clear and effective learning objectives. It emphasizes the importance of making learning objectives explicit, using the ABCD (Audience, Behavior, Condition, Degree) method. The book showcases the use of Bloom’s Taxonomy in defining various domains of learning such as cognitive, psychom*otor, and affective domains.
Furthermore, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of how to craft learning objectives, while maintaining precision and relevance to the desired learning outcomes. The book concludes by highlighting the role of clear learning objectives in anchoring assessments and activities, facilitating instructional improvements, and monitoring student progress.
2. Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing, by Lorin Anderson et al
This book presents a revision of Bloom’s original taxonomy, integrating advancements in cognitive psychology. It provides a two-dimensional framework that correlates knowledge with the cognitive processes that students employ to acquire and manipulate knowledge. The updated taxonomy serves as a tool for educators to construct, analyze, and implement standards-based curriculums.
The book also provides insights on how to align intended aims, instruction, and assessments effectively. This “revisited” framework fosters a comprehensive approach to learning, teaching, and assessing, enabling educators to view the curriculum from multiple perspectives.
3. How to Use Bloom’s Taxonomy in the Classroom, by Mike Gershon
This comprehensive guide offers practical insights and strategies for educators on how to leverage Bloom’s Taxonomy in classroom teaching. The book is designed to improve the quality of lesson planning, question formulation, activity development, and assessments. It provides a detailed analysis of Bloom’s Taxonomy, explaining how and why it works, and how it can be utilized to enhance students’ achievement.
The book goes into depth about each level of the taxonomy, from Knowledge and Comprehension to Synthesis and Evaluation, offering a wide range of ideas, activities, and techniques to support its application in everyday teaching.
The book also covers topics like setting objectives and outcomes, formulating questions, creating activities and products, and designing assessments. Written with a focus on practicality, this book is a valuable resource for educators aiming to improve their teaching methods and to challenge their students’ thinking abilities.
4. Ideas in Bloom: Taxonomy-Based Activities for U.S. Studies, by Phyllis Bray and Jeanne Rogers
This practical guide translates Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Development into actionable classroom activities. The book provides 60 adaptable and reproducible assignments, covering diverse topics from pre-Columbian America to modern computers. It is designed to aid educators in understanding the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, presenting typical activities for each level and guiding them on how to create their own assignments that align with specific course plans and objectives.
While it’s primarily written for grades 6-9, the adaptable nature of the activities means it can be effectively used for grades 5-12. The book serves as an essential tool for educators who wish to incorporate Bloom’s Taxonomy into their U.S. Studies curriculum in a flexible, practical manner.
Final thoughts
From offering insights into writing effective learning objectives to providing hands-on classroom activities based on Bloom’s levels, these books represent a broad spectrum of approaches and applications that empower educators to harness the full potential of this timeless educational framework.
In “Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Write Effective Learning Objectives,” Dr. Edmund Bilon has shown us how to craft precise, measurable, and student-centered objectives. Lorin Anderson’s “Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing” redefines and revises the original taxonomy in light of advances in cognitive psychology, thereby allowing for the effective construction and analysis of standards-based curriculums. Mike Gershon’s “How to Use Bloom’s Taxonomy in the Classroom” offers practical, applicable strategies for everyday teaching, while “Ideas in Bloom: Taxonomy-Based Activities for U.S. Studies” by Phyllis Bray and Jeanne Rogers provides ready-to-use activities that breathe life into Bloom’s Taxonomy in the classroom.
As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving terrain of education, it is tools like Bloom’s Taxonomy that equip us to create meaningful, transformative learning experiences for our students. The books we’ve explored here illuminate the path, providing the theoretical understanding and practical applications necessary to apply Bloom’s Taxonomy effectively.
