Taxonomy is the science of classification. As such it’s useful for ordering items within a domain into different categories. Contrary to popular understanding, a taxonomy is not a system for developing hierarchies. In education, the word ‘taxonomy’ is most closely associated with the prefix, ‘Bloom’s’. As every teacher knows, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a triangle with ‘knowledge’ […]
As we all know – well, most of us – the climate is changing as a result of human behaviour. Maybe we could do something about it, but it won’t be painless. It would involve those of us living the developed world giving up some of the conveniences we take for granted. If we don’t
Global warming in education: Why Schleicher is wrong Read More »
It’s very easy to present a false dichotomy to make our own beliefs and choices seem more desirable than the alternatives. Consider this infographic from the Hewlett Foundation which has been doing the rounds: What’s being implied is that the ‘deeper learning’ classroom somehow better prepares children for being scientists in the ‘science lab’ than ‘traditional’
Do we want ‘deeper learning’ classrooms? Read More »
After a long flight, I’ve finally finished rereading War and Peace and, if you were in any doubt, it is a masterpiece. I found so much I’d either entirely forgotten or hadn’t understood from my first reading over 20 years ago. What particularly struck me was the final chapter from the Second Epilogue. Throughout the book,
What Tolstoy tells about accepting change Read More »
Many people have written many thousands of words about the difference between knowledge and understanding, but I think Richard Feynman nails it here: You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you’re finished, you’ll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird… So let’s look at the
Knowing the names of things Read More »