At various points in the semester, I will ask you to write reflectively on your process and learning. At times I will ask you to self-assess your own work with reference to Bloom's Taxonomy's framework for understanding substantive learning. I will draw on your reflections and self-assessment in the grading process.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HMWX7bLaJcUJxrper_EJF0oNu7tQJohGVVYu-9jF4xIxrM7ST8QxQzqKvsJLgeo7GuuWlmzhsKAhOIWFuDi8yN633abdOY_01AWgObqnyvvh4TAvy66TuGQynBrgyQx9gKmS4st5Z-to4WbTtW4nmyY
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a thoughtful approach to student learning. The taxonomy positions knowledge as the core base of the learning experience (Did you familiarize yourself with ideas presented in class materials?) It then moves into more deep and rigorous dimensions of learning, starting with comprehension (Did you understand the arguments being made in class materials? Can you summarize them, discuss them, explain them to someone else?) Next comes Application (Can you apply the ideas presented?); Analysis (Can you use the ideas to analyze and make larger arguments?) At the tip of the Bloom’s Taxonomy pyramid, Synthesis and Evaluation, which are really two parts of a whole: have you brought the ideas from class into conversation with each other, and have you entered into conversation with them, taking them to new places? Can you assess these new ideas, both yours and others?
The skills that make up Bloom’s Taxonomy are cumulative and exponential, demonstrating growth and deeper understanding and mastery as you move from knowledge and comprehension toward synthesis and evaluation. The handy pyramid above really helps as a reference point.
Self-Assessment & Grades: How Do They Combine?
The purpose of this self reflection process is to de-emphasize grades in favor of learning and creativity, but as grades are a reality at Middlebury, here’s how Bloom’s Taxonomy translates to letter and numerical grading.
To give you more of a sense of how the Bloom’s Taxonomy Rubric plays out with our specific video remix assignments, here are some descriptions of how each component could be applied to your remixes.