Writing Objectives Using Bloom’s Taxonomy
Below are examples of objectives written for each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy and activities and assessment tools based on those
objectives. Common key verbs used in drafting objectives are also listed for each level.
Level
Level
Attributes
Keywords
Example Objective
Rote
1:
memorization,
Remembering recognition, or
recall of facts.
“By the end of this
list, recite, define,
course, the student will
name, match, quote,
be able to recite
recall, identify,
Newton’s three laws of
label, recognize
motion.”
Understanding
2:
what the facts
Understanding
mean.
describe, explain,
paraphrase, restate,
give original
examples of,
summarize,
interpret, discuss
“By the end of this
course, the student will
be able to explain
Newton’s three laws of
motion in his/her own
words.”
calculate, predict,
apply, solve,
illustrate, use,
demonstrate,
determine, model
“By the end of this
course, the student will
be able to calculate the
kinetic energy of a
projectile.”
3:Applying
Correct use of
the facts, rules,
or ideas.
Breaking down
information into
4: Analyzing
component
parts.
“By the end of this
classify, outline,
course, the student will
break down,
be able to differentiate
categorize, analyze,
between potential and
diagram, illustrate
kinetic energy.”
Example Activity
Example Assessment
Use the following
Have students group up and
question on an exam or
perform simple experiments
homework. “Recite
to the class showing how one
Newton’s three laws of
of the laws of motion works.
motion.”
Group students into pairs and
have each pair think of words Assign the students to
that describe motion. After a write a simple essay that
few minutes, ask pairs to
explains what Newton’s
volunteer some of their
laws of motion mean in
descriptions and write these his/her own words.
descriptions on the board.
After presenting the kinetic
energy equation in class, have On a test, define a
the students pair off for just a projectile and ask the
few minutes and practice
students to “Calculate
using it so that they feel
the kinetic energy of the
comfortable with it before
projectile.”
being assessed.
Present the students with
Give the students an
different situations involving assignment that asks
energy and ask the students to them to outline the basic
categorize the energy as
principles of kinetic and
either kinetic or potential then potential energy. Ask
have them explain in detail them to point out the
Adapted from UNC Charlotte Center for Teaching & Learning:
http://teaching.uncc.edu/articles-books/best-practice-articles/goals-objectives/writing-objectives-using-blooms-taxonomy
why they categorized it the differences between the
way they did, thus breaking two as well as how they
down what exactly makes up are related.
kinetic and potential energy.
Judging the
value or worth
5: Evaluating
of information
or ideas.
6: Creating
choose, support,
relate, determine,
defend, judge,
grade, compare,
contrast, argue,
justify, support,
convince, select,
evaluate
design, formulate,
Combining parts build, invent,
to make a new create, compose,
whole.
generate, derive,
modify, develop
“By the end of the
course, the student will
be able to determine
whether using
conservation of energy
or conservation of
momentum would be
more appropriate for
solving a dynamics
problem.”
By the end of this
section of the course,
the student will be able
to design an original
homework problem
dealing with the
principle of
conservation of energy.”
Have different groups of
students solve the same
problem using different
methods, then have each
group present the pros and
cons of the method they
chose.
On a test, describe a
dynamic system and ask
the students which
method they would use
to solve the problem and
why.
Tie each lecture or discussion
to the previous lectures or
discussions before it, thus
helping the students assemble
all the discreet classroom
sessions into a unified topic
or theory.
Give the students a
project in which they
must design an original
homework problem
dealing with the
principle of
conservation of energy.
Adapted from UNC Charlotte Center for Teaching & Learning:
http://teaching.uncc.edu/articles-books/best-practice-articles/goals-objectives/writing-objectives-using-blooms-taxonomy