THEME 3: EXAM WRITING SKILLS:- Comprehension - Understanding ideas and concepts

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 2: Comprehension

Understanding ideas and concepts

The second level of Bloom’s taxonomy has to do with understanding ideas and concepts. It goes beyond simply recalling memorised facts but requires students to show insight and evidence of really grappling with the subject matter to grasp the meaning.

Action required:
In short students are required to UNDERSTAND the information, INTERPRET the facts and TRANSLATE it from one form to another. These learning outcomes go one step beyond simply remembering of material. It requires that the student construct meaning from oral, written, and visual messages through interpreting, exemplifying, classifying, summarizing, inferring, comparing, and explaining.

Objectives:
The student must be able to:

1. Understand subject matter
To explain facts, concepts, terminology, principles etc. related to anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, theory of massage therapy, professionalism, ethics, jurisprudence etc.

2. Interpret verbal and written material
To explain the meaning or significance of the subject matter

3. Interpret charts and graphs

4. Interpret verbal, visual and palpatory information
To explain the meaning or significance of observations e.g. during pre and post-treatment consultations with patient, visual assessment and palpation assessment.

5. Predict consequences or effects.
To estimate the future consequences implied in data and to justify methods and procedures. For example: To explain why a particular massage technique will result in lengthening or shortening a muscle.

6. Translate knowledge into new contexts
To apply knowledge gained in lectures on anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology to massage practice.

Key words:
Typically questions testing comprehension will start with the following verbs:

Compare
To examine two or more things in order to discover similarities and differences between them. (Note that this key word requires you to look at those aspects that are similar AND those that differ)
For example:
Compare the structure and function of the upper limb girdle and the lower limb girdle
Compare the aetiology of the osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Compare the roles and functions of the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa and a professional association.

Contrast
To compare different things or arrange them in a way that highlights their differences.
For example:
Contrast the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Contrast Type 1 diabetes 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Contrast the effects of mechanical massage techniques and reflexive massage techniques.

Please note: The next two verbs, distinguish and differentiate are very similar but not identical.

Distinguish
To be aware of or recognise the characteristic feature/s that demonstrate/s that one thing is different from another without going into specific details.
For example:
Different areas of the human body reflect different tactile sensitivity. Distinguish between taboo areas and charged areas on the body.

Differentiate
To indicate precisely and in detail the differences between two or more things.
For example:
Differentiate between mechanical massage techniques and reflexive massage techniques.

Explain
To give an account of something with enough clarity and detail to be understood by somebody else. To make the meaning of something clear.
For example:
Explain why it is important for a massage therapist to establish a personal and a professional support system.
Explain the difference between the terms massage technique and massage therapy.
Explain the effects of rocking on the body.

Classify
To assign things to categories. To order, organise, pigeonhole, arrange or class things.
For example:
Classify the following muscles according to function.
Classify massage techniques according to the effects on the body.

Describe
To give an account of something by giving details of its characteristics. To label or typify something
For example:
Describe the physical and postural changes a massage therapist has to consider when treating a patient during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Describe the structure of a neuron in the human nervous system.

Give examples
For example:
Give examples of superficial reflexive techniques.

Illustrate
To provide explanatory pictures to accompany a printed, spoken, or electronic text.
For example:
Draw a diagram to illustrate the Krebs cycle.
Draw a flow chart to illustrate the process of synaptic transmission.

To clarify or explain something by giving examples or making comparisons.
For example:
Provide examples to illustrate situations when it is appropriate for a massage therapist to terminate a treatment prematurely.

Predict
To say what is going to happen in the future, often on the basis of present indications or past experience.
For example:
Predict the expected outcome of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) on a muscle.

Associate
To connect one thing with another.
For example:
Associate the terms in Column B with the statement in Column A.

Cite
To mention something or somebody as an example to support an argument or help explain what is being said.
For example:
Cite examples of research studies that illustrate the benefits of massage for premature babies.
Cite examples of connective tissue techniques.

Levels of comprehension questions

Questions assessing comprehension may be simple or may require more explanations and interpretation.

For example:
Simple: List the different superficial reflexive techniques and explain the principles of each technique.
Extended: Compare the indications of superficial reflexive techniques with the indications for connective tissue techniques.

Simple: Label the muscles of the rotator cuff.
Extended: Label the muscles of the rotator cuff and list each muscle’s 1) antagonist, 2) agonist and 3) synergist.

Examples of activities testing knowledge

Paraphrase/ Restate in your own words
To restate something using other words, especially in order to make it simpler or shorter but showing understanding of the subject.

Summarise
To make a condensed version. To give a shortened version of something that has been said or written, stating its main points.
For example:
Summarise Per Henrik Ling’s philosophy of massage.

Discuss
To talk about a subject with others. To consider a topic in speaking or writing
For example:
Discuss the importance of self-care for a massage therapist.

Provide a brief outline of …
To give the most prominent or important aspects of something.
For example:
Provide a brief outline of the history of massage from antiquity to the present.

Prepare a flow chart
To illustrate the sequence of events.
For example:
Prepare a flow chart to illustrate the direction of blood flow through the heart.

Sources:
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/researchskills/dalton.htm
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org