1. Understanding Depth of Knowledge
A revised/updated Bloom’s Taxonomy
Dr. Norman Webb ~ 1997

2. What is Depth of Knowledge?
The degree of depth or complexity of knowledge reflected in the content standards and assessments
How deeply a student needs to understand the content for a given response/assessment

3. Webb’s DOK Levels Level 1 Recall and Reproduction
Level 2 Skills & Concepts
Level 3 Strategic Thinking
Level 4 Extended Thinking

4. Depth of Knowledge Levels
Level 1: Recall
Recall, recognition; skill, behavior or sequence of behaviors learned through practice and easily performed
Level 2: Skill/Concept
Engagement of some mental processing beyond recalling; the use of information or conceptual knowledge; requires making some decisions regarding how to approach a question or problem
Level 3: Strategic Thinking
More sophisticated reasoning and analysis; deep understanding; students are required to solve problems & draw conclusions
Level 4: Extended Thinking
Requires integration of knowledge from multiple sources and ability to represent knowledge in a variety of ways; usually requires work over an extended period of time
The DOK has 4 levels. Depth of Knowledge, or DOK, is a way to think about content complexity, not content difficulty. That is the first thing with which people must come to understanding. Complexity is different from difficulty. For example, if students have not seen the word or content before, it might be difficult for them, but it is not complex.
Level 1 DOK is recall and recognition.
Level 2 – is about using a skill or a concept, i.e. Paraphrase. Conceptual understanding generally refers to the integration and application of concepts and other ideas within a content area. Procedural understanding denotes knowledge about skills and sequence of steps, when and how these should be used appropriately, and their efficient and accurate applications.
Level 3 DOK requires strategic thinking. Analysis and other examples are given here. Non-routine problem solving like in reading and determining author’s purpose is Level 3.
Level 4 DOK requires extended thinking usually requires work over a period of time, including gathering information, analyzing findings, preparing reports, and presenting findings.

5. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Main character
On the table she found . . .
She decided to rest her feet and saw . . .
She began to feel very tired and found . . .
Soon, someone comes home.
They find the bowls, the chairs and beds.
Goldilocks screams and . . .

6. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
List the things that goldilocks did while she was in the Bears house.
What events in this story could not really have happened?
In your opinion, was Goldilocks good or bad?
Answering which of these would be categorized as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4?

7. Understanding Depth of Knowledge
DOK is about intended outcome, not difficulty.
DOK is a reference to the complexity of mental processing that must occur to answer a question, perform a task, or generate a product.
Sorting Activity

8. Depth of Knowledge Levels
Level 1: Recall Recall, recognition; skill, behavior or sequence of behaviors learned through practice and easily performed Level 2: Skill/Concept Engagement of some mental processing beyond recalling; the use of information or conceptual knowledge; requires making some decisions regarding how to approach a question or problem Level 3: Strategic Thinking More sophisticated reasoning and analysis; deep understanding; students are required to solve problems & draw conclusions Level 4: Extended Thinking Requires integration of knowledge from multiple sources and ability to represent knowledge in a variety of ways; usually requires work over an extended period of time
Use this slide as participations work through the word sort….
When everyone finishes their sort…show the next few slides so they can check their answers.

9. DOK Level 1 Examples
List animals that survive by eating other animals.
Locate or recall facts explicitly found in text
Describe physical features of places
Determine the perimeter or area of rectangles given a drawing or labels
Identify elements of music using musical terminology
Identify basic rules for participating in simple games and activities
Recall and reproduction Level 1
DOK 1 requires recall of information, such as facts, definition, term or performance of a simple process or procedure
Answering a Level 1 item can involve following a simple, well-known procedure or formula. Simple skills and abilities or recall characterize DOK 1.

10. DOK Level 2 Examples Compare desert and tropical environments
Identify and summarize the major events, problem, solution, conflicts in literary text
Explain the cause-effect of historical events
Predict a logical outcome based on information in a reading selection
Explain how good work habits are important at home, school, and on the job.
Classify plane and three dimensional figures
Describe various styles of music
DOK 2 includes the engagement of some mental processing beyond recalling or reproducing a response. Items require students to make some decisions as to how to approach the question or problem.
These actions imply more than one mental or cognitive process/step.

11. DOK Level 3 Examples
Compare consumer actions and analyze how these actions impact the environment
Analyze or evaluate the effectiveness of literary elements (e.g. characterization, setting, point of view, conflict and resolution, plot structures)
Solve a multiple-step problem and provide support with a mathematical explanation that justifies the answer
Level 3 Strategic thinking
DOK 3 requires deep understanding as exhibited through planning, using evidence, and more demanding cognitive reasoning. The cognitive demands at Level 3 are complex and abstract.
An assessment item that has more than one possible answer and requires students to justify the response they give would most likely be a Level 3.

12. DOK Level 3 Examples Develop a scientific model for a complex idea
Propose and evaluate solutions for an economic problem
Explain, generalize or connect ideas, using supporting evidence from a text or sourc
Create a dance that represents the characteristics of a culture

13. DOK Level 4 Examples
Gather, analyze, organize, and interpret information from multiple (print and non print sources) to draft a reasoned report
Analyzing author’s craft (e.g., style, bias, literary techniques, point of view)
Create an exercise plan applying the “FITT (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) Principle
DOK 4 requires high cognitive demand and is very complex. Students are expected to make connections – related ideas within the content or among content areas – and have to select or devise one approach among many alternatives on how the situation can be solved.
Due to the complexity of cognitive demand, DOK 4 often requires an extended period of time. However, extended time alone, is not a distinguishing factor.

14. DOK Level 4 Examples
Analyze and explain multiple perspectives or issues within or across time periods, events, or cultures
Specify a problem, identify solution paths, solve the problem, and report the results
Write and produce an original play

15. Same VERB – three DOK levels Elementary Mathematics
DOK ? Determine the formula for the area of a rectangle and explain reasoning through modeling
DOK ? Demonstrate and model multiplication (repeated addition, arrays) and division (repeated subtraction, partitioning)
DOK ? Model, describe, and draw – lines, rays, angles including right, obtuse, and acute angles.
DOK 3
DOK 2
DOK 1

16. Same VERB – three DOK Levels Science
DOK? – Describe a model that you might use to represent the relationships that exist within the rock cycle
DOK ? – Describe the differences between metamorphic and igneous rocks
DOK ? – Describe three characteristics of metamorphic rocks
DOK 3 (requires deep understanding of rock cycle and a determination of how best to represent it.
DOK 2 (requires cognitive processing to determine the differences in the two types of rocks)
DOK 1 (simple recall)

17. Same VERB – three DOK Levels Social Studies
DOK ?  examine the amendment process of the West Virginia Constitution, give examples of amendments and explain why they occurred.        
DOK ? Use correct geographic terminology to explain direction, location, time zones, physical features of the earth.
DOK ?   explain how nations benefit when they resolve conflicts peacefully. 
DOK 3
DOK 1
DOK 2

18. Essay
Choose one level to explain and give an example. This may be a lesson you have seen your Mentor do or a lesson you have been involved with in one of your classes.
Write a three paragraph, one-page, double spaced, MLA formatted essay. 1) Begin by explaining the level you have chosen. Research! 2) Talk about how/where you see this level. Give an example. 3) Now give your opinion. Is this good/bad/necessary, or whatever you think of DOK in the context you have written.
Submit your essay to Turnitin by Friday, March 22nSd.