Six Levels or Types of Thinking Every Student Should Master

Introduction

• Six levels of thinking, each leading to different results.
• Many students struggle because they operate at lower levels of thinking, causing stress and inefficiency.
• Learning to think deliberately at the right level is crucial for achieving top academic results.

Level 1: Remember

• Involves memorizing through repetitive tasks (rereading, rewriting, flashcards).
• Feels tedious and can make us drowsy.
• Unlocks the 'regurgitate' result: listing, defining, stating facts.
• Not effective for long-term retention of information.

Level 2: Understand

• Focuses on comprehending the material, not just memorizing it.
• Different mental approach: aim to grasp the meaning behind the material.
• Unlocks the 'explain' result: explain concepts or processes.
• Techniques used may look the same as level 1 but with different intentions.

Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

• Framework first published in 1956, revised in 2001.
• Describes the levels of thinking from basic to complex.
• Often overlooked but very effective for learning efficiency.

Level 3: Apply

• Using knowledge to solve simple problems.
• Types of problems: simple (one-to-one) and advanced (strategic, multiple concepts).
• Unlocks the 'simple problem solving' result.
• Achieved through practice papers, quizzes, and procedural tasks.

Level 4: Analyze

• Comparing and contrasting different pieces of information.
• Techniques: Venn diagrams, tables, summaries, mind maps.
• Unlocks the 'comparison' result.
• Requires more mental effort, deeper thinking, and stronger memory formation.

Level 5: Evaluate

• Making judgments and forming conclusions.
• Ask 'so what', 'who cares', 'why is it important'.
• Unlocks the 'prioritize' result: justifying decisions.
• Involves critical evaluation and deeper understanding.

Level 6: Create

• Synthesizing new information, creating hypotheses.
• Relevant mostly at higher levels of education and professional work.
• Unlocks the 'hypothesize' result: creating answers where none exist.
• Less important for most learners compared to levels 1-5.

Strategy for Efficient Learning

• Traditional Method: Start at level 1 and move up sequentially - time-consuming, prone to knowledge decay.
• Recommended Method: Start at level 5 and move down - stronger memory, less forgetting, more efficient.
• Focus on higher levels will naturally cover lower levels as a byproduct.

Conclusion

• Level 5 thinking requires more effort but yields greater results.
• Evaluate material deeply rather than just memorizing or understanding.
• Newsletter available for key concepts and practical takeaways.