Six Levels of Thinking for Mastering Learning

Importance of Thinking at the Right Level

• Each level of thinking leads to different results.
• Many students struggle by thinking at the wrong level.
• Right level of thinking reduces stress and improves results.
• The six levels contribute to top academic success.

Level 1: Remember

• Involves memorizing, rereading, and rewriting.
• Often tedious and repetitive.
• Results in the ability to regurgitate information (listing, defining, stating facts).
• Limited usefulness in professional life.

Level 2: Understand

• Focuses on comprehending rather than memorizing.
• Mental engagement: reading to understand.
• Results in explaining concepts and processes.
• Commonly assessed in earlier stages of education.

Reference to Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

• Framework developed in 1956, revised in 2001.
• Still relevant for understanding different levels of thinking.
• Helps double learning efficiency when used correctly.

Level 3: Apply

• Using learned knowledge to solve simple problems (e.g., math equations, coding functions).
• Simple problem solving: one concept to one problem.
• Higher complexity requires strategic thinking.
• Practice through solving questions and quizzes.

Level 4: Analyze

• Comparing and contrasting information.
• Unlocks the ability to analyze and understand relationships.
• Techniques: Venn diagrams, tables, summaries, mind maps.
• Effective for forming deeper knowledge and stronger memory.

Example Using AI Tools

• Use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate comparison-level questions.
• Helps predict exam questions and prepare effectively.

Level 5: Evaluate

• Focuses on judgment and prioritizing information.
• Forming conclusions and justifying them.
• Involves deep consideration of why information matters.
• Techniques: mind maps, teaching, answering questions, creating summaries.
• Found in advanced educational stages and professional settings.

Example Using AI Tools

• Use AI to generate evaluation-level questions to practice justifying conclusions.

Level 6: Create

• Synthesis of new and novel information from what is known.
• Relevant mostly at the highest educational and professional levels.
• Results in hypothesizing and creating new answers where none existed before.

Efficient Learning Approach

• Traditional method: starting from level 1 and moving up is time-consuming and inefficient due to knowledge decay.
• Recommended method: start at level 5 (evaluate) and move down.
  • Higher mental engagement forms stronger memory.
  • Achieves lower levels as a side effect.
• Focus on evaluating to naturally understand, analyze, and memorize content.

Additional Resources

• Newsletter that summarizes key learning concepts and practical takeaways.