Benjamin Bloom
Benjamin Bloom (1913–1999)
Key Contribution / Core Idea
Creator of Bloom’s Taxonomy — a framework for categorising educational objectives from basic recall to higher-order thinking.
Background / Context
American educational psychologist. Developed the taxonomy in the 1950s to help teachers design curriculum and assessment with clear learning goals.
Main Theories / Methods
Original taxonomy: Knowledge → Comprehension → Application → Analysis → Synthesis → Evaluation.
Revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl): Remember → Understand → Apply → Analyze → Evaluate → Create.
Emphasised hierarchical progression of thinking skills.
Relevance to Modern KS3/4 Teaching
Helps teachers structure lessons and exam questions from basic recall to problem-solving.
Particularly relevant in maths, science, and essay-based subjects.
Supports differentiation by providing levels of cognitive challenge.
How His Ideas Link to Others
Connects with Bruner’s spiral curriculum: revisit concepts at deeper levels.
Complements Rosenshine’s principles (scaffolding, guided practice).
Strengths and Appeal
Provides a clear language for learning objectives.
Widely used in teacher training and assessment design.
Criticisms and Limitations
Hierarchical model may oversimplify complex thinking.
Focuses on cognition, less on motivation or emotion.
Legacy / Lasting Influence
Bloom’s Taxonomy remains a core tool in curriculum design worldwide.
Used extensively in lesson planning, assessment, and exam preparation.
Further Reading
Bloom, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (1956).