What is the standard framework for categorizing levels of thinking?

Bloom's taxonomy is a widely recognized framework that categorizes levels of thinking based on cognitive complexity. Developed by Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues, this taxonomy divides learning objectives into six hierarchical levels: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Each level builds on the previous one, encouraging deeper understanding and critical thinking in educational contexts.

Many educators utilize Bloom's taxonomy to design curriculum and assessments that promote progressive learning. By structuring educational goals according to these levels, teachers can help students develop a more sophisticated approach to processing information and problem-solving. This framework also aids in crafting questions and tasks that require varied intellectual engagement, ultimately enhancing the learning experience.

In contrast, Piaget's theory focuses on cognitive development stages in children, Gardner's multiple intelligences theory emphasizes different modalities of intelligence, and Kohlberg's stages address moral development. While all these theories contribute valuable insights to education, they do not specifically categorize levels of thinking in the way Bloom's taxonomy does.