The chapter test in my class relates to the Bloom’s Taxonomy of education objectives in that it asks for students to recall knowledge, demonstrate their comprehension of that knowledge, analyze the concepts by comparing and contrasting them, and apply their comprehension to current events. The progression of thinking skills builds throughout the test, which models Bloom’s Taxonomy. The first question, for instance, asks students to define “sovereignty”. In order to define sovereignty, they must know it and be able to rephrase the definition in their own words. It is labeled as a “level 2 question”. Another level 2 question on the test, asks students to list similarities and differences between coastal and plateau tribes in Washington State. This requires students to show how “specific information is related to other information” (Shermis, Di Vesta), linking the details about tribes into categories and patterns.
The next series of questions on the test are labeled Level 3 and build upon comprehension through “synthesis”. Students are asked to connect their knowledge of sovereignty to their understanding of how treaties work: “How is Native American sovereignty provided by and limited by tribal treaties?” In order to answer this question, they have to make a connection between the two ideas. This requires analysis, breaking ideas down into categories, and synthesis, creating a new connection. This question focuses on comparisons and relationships between ideas. The proceeding questions asked the students to identify, use evidence, explain why, list reasons, and other similar functions that require comprehension of facts and application of that information according to particular categories and connections.
A document-based question finishes off the chapter test: “Formulate a relationship between the information from the maps of the Olympic Peninsula and the information from the September 30, 2015 Seattle Times article on the partitioning of Syria”. This question is labeled as a Level 4 question. A standards-based rubric is provided for this question. The criteria that would constitute an answer as “approaching standard” is one that lists details and information. This answer would show a student’s comprehension of the facts. An answer that “meets standard” would be one that summarizes issues of the article and unit content. The standard is to analyze, break the information down in summary and categories. An “exceeds standard” answer connects the summarized issues of the Native Americans and those of the Syrians. It exceeds standard because it requires analysis and synthesis for a new connection to be made between categories of information. Also, students are required to apply the historical information to modern-day context and make a connections.
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