Benjamin Bloom (1956) developed a classification of levels that might be seen in intellectual behavior in learning. This taxonomy contained three overlapping domains: the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. Within the cognitive domain, he identified six levels: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. These domains and levels are still useful today as you develop your critical thinking skills
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including skills such as comparison, classification, sequencing, cause/effect, patterning, webbing, analogies, deductive and inductive reasoning, forecasting, planning, hyphothesizing, and critquing.
Creative Thinking
Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. It involves the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence.
While critical thinking can be thought of as more left-hemisphere and creative thinking more right hemisphere, they both involve "thinking." When we talk about HOTS "higher-order thinking skills" we're concentrating on the top three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy: analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Knowledge
collect | describe | identify | list | show | tell | tabulate | define | examine | label | name | retell | state | quote | enumerate | match | read | record | reproduce | copy | select
Examples: dates, events, places, vocabulary, key ideas, parts of diagram, 5Ws
Comprehension
associate | compare | distinguish | extend | interpret | predict | differentiate | contrast | describe | discuss | estimate | group | summarize | order | cite | convert | explain | paraphrase | restate | trace
Examples: find meaning, transfer, interpret facts, infer cause & consequence, examples
Application
apply | classify | change | illustrate | solve | demonstrate | calculate | complete | solve | modify | show | experiment | relate | discover | act | administer | articulate | chart | collect | compute | construct | determine | develop | establish | prepare | produce | report | teach | transfer | use
Examples: use information in new situations, solve problems
Analysis
analyze | arrange | connect | divide | infer | separate | classify | compare | contrast | explain | select | order | breakdown | correlate | diagram | discriminate | focus | illustrate | infer | outline | prioritize | subdivide | points out | prioritize
Examples: recognize and explain patterns and meaning, see parts and wholes
Synthesis
combine | compose | generalize | modify | invent | plan | substitute | create | formulate | integrate | rearrange | design | speculate | rewrite | adapt | anticipate | collaborate | compile | devise | express | facilitate | reinforce |
structure | substitute | intervene | negotiate | reorganize | validate
Examples: discuss "what if" situations, create new ideas, predict and draw conclusions
Evaluation
assess | compare | decide | discriminate | measure | rank | test | convince | conclude | explain | grade
Examples: make recommendations, assess value and make choices, critique ideas
Affective Domain
Domain Attributes include interpersonal relations, emotions, attitudes, appreciation and identification with values
accepts | attempts | challenges | defends | disputes | joins | judges | contributes | praises | questions | shares | supports | volunteers