As teachers and instructors it is important for us to frame questions the right way, the objective being to test the depth of understanding of the learner.
Benjamin Bloom states that there are six levels of understanding. Let’s take a look at the first three of them.
Level 1 – Knowledge – Remembering, memorizing, recognizing, recalling identification, recalling information etc fall under knowledge. The questions asked under this level are simple questions asked to test the basics learnt by the learner.
Level 2 – Comprehension – Interpreting, translating from one medium to another, describing in one's own words, organization and selection of facts and ideas and so on are covered by the comprehension level. Questions asked here test if the learner has understood the concepts taught.
Level 3 – Application - Problem solving, applying information to produce some result, use of facts, rules and principles and so on. The questions asked here under test the understanding of the learner at an application level. It tests if the learner is able to practically apply what he/she has learnt.
The words used to ask a question must be carefully chosen. The following examples might help.
Level 1 – Knowledge – Relate, recognize, duplicate, arrange, label, define, list, state, repeat, order, memorize, name, reproduce, recall and so on.
Level 2 – Comprehension – Translate, classify, select, describe, identify, discuss, indicate, explain, express, locate, report, review, restate and so on.
Level 3 – Application - Apply, solve, write, practice, choose, interpret, demonstrate, employ, dramatize, illustrate, operate, schedule, use, sketch, and so on.
