Problems in relating various tasks and their sample solutions to Bloom's taxonomy

Abstract

In this paper we analyze sample solutions of a number of problems and relate them to their level as prescribed by Bloom's taxonomy. We relate these solutions to a number of other frameworks, too. Our key message is that it remains insufficient to analyze written forms of these tasks. We emphasize careful observations of how different students approach a solution before finally assessing the level of tasks used. We take the arithmetic series as our starting point and point out that the objective of the discussion of the examples here in no way is to indicate an optimal way towards a solution. Instead, our intent is to demonstrate the potential of well selected tasks and the variation that could be observed as students develop their solutions. A large part of this work is devoted to an analysis of the richness of the square triangular number problem.