10/21/22, 1:00 PM Bloom's Taxonomy Interpreted for Mathematics

Boom's Taxonomy Interpreted for Mathematics

By: Lindsey Shorser

Bloom's Taxonomy is an educational tool developed by Benjamin S. Bloom (1913-1999) that ranks the relative cognitive complexity of various
educational objectives. This taxonomy is often used as an aid when creating test questions and assignments. Below is an interpretation of Bloom's
Taxonomy in the context of mathematical understanding with examples drawn from introductory-level, single-variable calculus.

Level of
Description Key Terms Sample Question
Understanding
List, define,
Questions involve stating definitions, theorems, steps to describe, show, What are the conditions of the
Knowledge
a given method and other features of the course notes. name, what, when, Mean Value Theorem.
etc.
Summarize,
"Use the definition to identify...", "Which of the Find the slope of the tangent line
compare and
Comprehension following satisfies the conditions of...", "Use a to the following function at a given
contrast, estimate,
specified method to..." point.
discuss, etc.
Find the derivative of the
Apply, calculate, following implicitly defined
Questions use more than one definition, theorem,
Application complete, show, function. (This question might also
and/or algorithm.
solve, modify, etc. involve logarithmic
differentiation.)
Questions require the student to identify the appropriate
theorem and use it to arrive at the given conclusion or Separate, arrange, Let f(x) be a fourth-degree
Analysis classification. Alternatively, these questions can classify, explain, polynomial. How many roots can
provide a scenario and ask the student to generate a etc. f(x) have? Explain.
certain type of conclusion.
Synthesis Questions are similar to Analysis questions, but the Integrate, modify, Optimize the given quantity after
conclusion to be reached by the student is an algorithm substitute, design, generating the function that
for solving the given question. This also includes create, What if..., represents the given quantity.
formulate,
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10/21/22, 1:00 PM Bloom's Taxonomy Interpreted for Mathematics

questions which ask the student to develop their own generalize, prepare,
classification system. etc.
Related rate word problem where
Assess, rank, test,
Questions are similar to Synthesis questions, except the students decide which formulae
explain,
Evaluation student is required to make judgements about which are to be used and which of the
discriminate,
information should be used. given numbers are constants or
support, etc.
instantaneous values.

For a general description of Bloom's Taxonomy, see:

University of Victoria - Counselling Services

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