A taxonomy can make learning less taxing.
- Jo Blatch
- Sep 2, 2017
- 2 min read
As a spontaneous person, by nature, I am unlikely to make a list or create a plan before doing any activity. I find freedom and inspiration when I just jump in and start things. The pay-off is twofold:
1: I have little to no expectations so everything good that happens is a pleasant surprise.
2: Any new thinking, learning or experience joins the swarm of thoughts and ideas that inhabit my brain like a great cloud of migrating butterflies.
If I am still for a moment, to reflect, I might just allow one of those butterflies to land softly upon my outstretched hand where I can enjoy it again. But, more often than not, those ideas keep fluttering about nearby; and without an appropriate butterfly net, I am chasing them around uselessly trying to catch them.
The beauty of a taxonomy is in its ability to wrangle butterflies.
Putting thinking in order, so that ideas follow a process or a pattern, enables us to get from A to B in an efficient manner. It enables us to retrace that thinking and add to it whenever the need arises. A taxonomy creates a framework and makes sense of thoughts and ideas.
As teachers, planning for learning, and reflecting on learning, are two of our greatest tools. This is even more pertinent when you work in a school where you are the only person on your stage. You might even be the only teacher in your school. If you can develop an efficient planning and reflecting practice, your teaching will be more effective and your students’ learning will be greatly improved.
Here are some taxonomies of learning that I have developed to help order some of my thinking.
The first one is useful for teachers and students who want to develop the idea of self direction.
This next taxonomy helps me to organise my thinking around the idea of developing a Personal Learning Network (PLN)
This taxonomy shows a procedure for developing self-efficacy.
Lastly, here is a taxonomy to explain a process of reflection as a tool for teaching and learning.
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