Using Thinking Levels to Plan Instruction

Thinking Skills

In 1956, Benjamin Bloom, created the "Taxonomy of Educational Objectives". It was devised to help educators classify teaching goals and plan learning experiences. Bloom's list is a classic in every introduction course of learning theory. There are six cognitive levels and they are usually viewed as hierarchical.

The six levels of thinking provides a framework for teachers as they make decisions for instruction. Teachers incorporate different levels of thinking in their classroom activities and student assignments.

Thinking Skills Chart


Cognitive Verbs provides an example of how to change the task to boost learning

Higher Order Thinking (an Ecology example)

Thinking About What I Read

Thinking About Words