LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT

LECTURE 5
TSL3112

Learning Outcomes
Compare and contrast Blooms
taxonomy and SOLO taxonomy
Categorise test items according to
Blooms taxonomy
Discuss the elements of test items of
high quality, reliability and validity

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

WHAT IS A TAXONOMY?
a classification system that
allows you to distinguish
concepts, name concepts and
put those concepts in order.
It is used to index and
access information about
a subject in a systematic,
unambiguous way.
Provides a structure for
your information

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

Common taxonomies used in the field of assessment

in Education:
BLOOM vs SOLO?

SOLO (Biggs and

Collis , 1982)

BLOOM (1956)

a classification of
the different
objectives
thateducatorsset
for students
(learning
objectives)

Structure of the
Observed Learning
Outcome.
Framework of
understanding

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

What is

BLOOM?
threedomainsof
educational
activities orlearning
(Bloom, 1956):
Cognitive: mental
skills (Knowledge)
Affective: growth
in feelings or
emotional areas
(Attitude or self)
Psychomotor:
manual or physical
skills (Skills)
HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

The SOLO model

a framework for understanding. (1999,
p.37)
the level of increasing complexity in a
student's understanding of a subject,
comprises five stages, hierarchal and each
stage embraces the previous and adds
something to it.
a systematic way of describing how a
learners performance grows in complexity
when mastering many tasks
HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

-simple scoring system , each question contains sample

answers to help
teachers determine how to score student responses.
- students responses dont have to match exactly but should
be accurate (e.g., cat, kitten, or kitty would all be considered
accurate for an illustration of a cat).
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References
http://www.johnbiggs.com.au/solo_gr
aph.html

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Tutorial #5
Groupwork:
Compare and contrast Blooms
taxonomy and SOLO taxonomy.
Examine a few test items and
categorise them according to
Blooms taxonomy.
Discuss the elements of each test
item.
HHYeoh/TSL3123/Lecture 5

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