Webb Vs. Bloom Taxonomy
Webb's Depth of Knowledge and Bloom's Taxonomy are tools for understanding and evaluating learning levels. Instructors can gauge the extent of subject mastery based on discreet steps as described in either tool. Webb uses four levels within his evaluation profile; Bloom describes six stages.
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Significance
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Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK) and Bloom's Taxonomy are used to evaluate course materials and develop class activities that call for more than a parroting of facts, considered by both tools as the lowest level of learning.
Remembering Information
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Recall information and understand how the pieces fit. Webb considers recall and understanding of subject matter a single objective in the learning process. Bloom breaks it into two stages: knowledge (remembering) and comprehension (understanding). Fill-in-the-blanks activities fall into this category.
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Applying Information
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Applying and analyzing demonstrate mastery. Both Webb and Bloom label application of knowledge as a critical milestone. Instructors can use questions such as "Which of these terms doesn't describe an elephant?" and provide choices where all but one apply.
Analyzing Information
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To succeed in analysis, a person must break a situation or problem into component parts, according to Bloom. Webb labels this process strategic thinking, which includes reasoning and drawing conclusions. "Why?" questions fit this category.
Thinking Beyond the Information
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Create something new to demonstrate extended thinking. Create something new or devise a new approach based on learned information to apply Webb's fourth stage, extended thinking. Apply critical thinking skills to critique the new design or provide proof of its efficacy. Bloom's Taxonomy separates this stage into two levels: synthesizing and evaluating.
Updates
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Bloom was updated in the 1990s by a group led by Bloom's former student, Lorin Anderson. This version also uses six levels but reorganizes them as remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating.
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