Strategies to Support 2e Learners

4. Strategies to Implement Rigor

One of the best ways to add rigor is to look at higher level thinking skills.  Thinking skills need to be taught to students and once they become aware of the different levels of thinking, the results are amazing.  The following are some ways to approach higher level thinking.

Bloom's Taxonomy

It might help to think about Bloom's in terms of the "what" for thinking.  Many are familiar with Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning which has been around since 1956 and which underwent a revision by Anderson and Krathwohl in 2000.  

Three of the most significant changes they made include:

• changing the names in the six categories from noun to verb forms 
• rearranging them as shown in the chart below 
• creating a processes and levels of knowledge matrix

The article Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains provides background information on Bloom's Taxonomy.  

Webb's Depth of Knowledge

Next, to further understand rigor, read through this Edutopia article about Using Webb's Depth of Knowledge to Increase Rigor. 

This Depth of Knowledge Overview Chart is a good resource to save,  It starts with DOK's 4 levels, but aligns them with Bloom's Taxonomy and provides: 1) levels of complexity, 2) key verbs that may clue level, and 3) evidence of Depth of Knowledge.   

Depth and Complexity

Another way to encourage high order thinking is by using the Depth and Complexity Framework which creates an inquiry-based classroom. This framework increases rigor in the classroom and student achievement by increasing higher level thinking.  There are many districts who have offered training on Depth and Complexity, especially through their gifted education department, and there is a state level course offered twice a year through the Office of Gifted Education. We are presenting this here for you to seek more information about later if you are interested.

Ian Byrd's website Byrdseed provides resources on many topics concerning gifted students.  In his article: Everything You Need to Know About Depth and Complexity Icons he provides a great overview and links to more in-depth information.  Here is his description of the icons used in this framework (skim and save for later if you think you might use it). 

Everything You Need to Know About Depth and Complexity Icons