Marzano’s New Taxonomy
Robert Marzano, respected educational researcher, has proposed what he calls A New Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (2000). Developed to respond to the shortcomings of the widely used Bloom’s Taxonomy and the current environment of standards-based instruction, Marzano’s model of thinking skills incorporates a wider range of factors that affect how learners think and provides a more research-based theory to help teachers improve their learners’ thinking.
Marzano’s New Taxonomy is made up of three systems and the Knowledge Domain, all of which are important for thinking and learning. The three systems are the Self-System, the Metacognitive System, and the Cognitive System. When faced with the option of starting a new task, the Self-System decides whether to continue the current behaviour or engage in the new activity; the Metacognitive System sets goals and keeps track of how well they are being achieved; the Cognitive System processes all the necessary information, and the Knowledge Domain provides the content.
The Three Systems and Knowledge
Self-System | ||
| Beliefs About the Importance of Knowledge | Beliefs about Efficacy | Emotions Associated with Knowledge |
Metacognitive System |
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| Specifying Learning Goals | Monitoring the Execution of Knowledge | Monitoring Clarity | Monitoring Accuracy |
Cognitive System |
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| Knowledge Retrieval | Comprehension | Analysis | Knowledge Utilization |
| Recall Execution |
Synthesis Representation |
Matching Classifying Error Analysis Generalizing Specifying |
Decision Making Problem Solving Experimental Inquiry Investigation |
Knowledge Domain |
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| Information | Mental Procedures | Physical Procedures |
Classroom Example
Libby, a Grade 3 learner is thinking about a pyjama party she is going to attend this weekend when her teacher begins a math lesson. Libby’s Self-System decides to stop thinking about the party and engage in the lesson. Her Metacognitive System tells her to pay attention and ask questions so she can do the work. Her Cognitive System provides her with the thinking strategies she needs to make sense of the teacher’s instructions. The mathematical knowledge about concepts and procedures makes it possible for her to complete the problems successfully. Each component of the New Taxonomy contributes to Libby’s success at learning the math concept and skills of the lesson.
