An introduction to the SOLO taxonomy.

1. SOLO TAXONONY Overview Use Thinking Pre-Structural Uni-Structural Multi-Structural Relational Extended Abstract Prepared by Mike Whiteman: Waitomo ICT Cluster 3 Story Links Example Hoi An Click on these symbols to reveal an item of information. Click on the symbol again to hide the information.

2. SOLO stands for Structure of the Observed Learning Outcomes and was developed by John Biggs and Kevin Collis. In simple terms, the taxonomy presents a systematic way to describe how learner performance grows in complexity when mastering tasks (in an educational setting). It defines levels of increasing complexity in a learners understanding of an idea. Learners may not exhibit all stages. Biggs describes it as “a framework for understanding understanding.” It seeks to provide a way to identify connections that learners make, with each level adding more. MENU

3. Helping learners to look at their own work in relation to this taxonomy can help in two ways: * an assessment framework independent of ‘content knowledge’ * a model to help show how a piece of work can be improved MENU

4. If you are using rubrics and/or success criteria , then use of the SOLO Taxonomy may be more productive educationally, because thinking about the structure responses may provide better understanding of ideas than the listing of specific knowledge bytes. As such, it can help learners develop an understanding of thinking, rather than knowing of thinking. MENU

5. the point hasn’t been understood the task has not been worked on in an appropriate way a too simple way of going about something has been used bits without any organisation or sense irrelevant information no meaningful response may appear to be learning, but just ‘chanting’ no understanding QUANTITAVE Pre - Structural misses the point MENU

6. one aspect of a task is picked up and used maybe a simple, obvious connection but no significance attached only focuses on one relevant aspect terms may be used but are not developed further in any way focuses on one issue in a complex case Uni - Structural identify, memorise, carry out a simple procedure QUANTITAVE MENU

7. several aspects of a tasked picked up and used, but not linked aspects of a task are treated independently and additively aspects like a disorganised list with no relationships recognised a number of statements that are not built on in any way if there are connections they are very simple the significance of statements as a whole is not grasped ‘ knowledge telling,’ ‘cut and paste’ described by Biggs as “seeing the trees but not the wood” Multi - Structural enumerate, classify, describe, list, combine, do algorithms QUANTITAVE MENU

8. integration of ideas/aspects of the task into a coherent whole this is usually seen to be an adequate understanding of a topic significance of the parts in relation to the whole is recognised several parts are integrated into a coherent whole details link to conclusions meaning is understood able to apply a concept to a familiar situation QUALITATIVE Relational compare/contrast, explain causes, analyse, relate, apply MENU

9. connections are made not only within a topic, but beyond it there is transfer from the specific to the general generalisations are made beyond the information given new and broader issues are identified the ‘through the roof’ notion of the Three Story Intellect model the Relational level at a higher level of abstraction QUALITATIVE Extended Abstract theorise, generalise, hypothesise, reflect, generate MENU

10. MENU OUTPUT PROCESS Surface Deep Pre-Structural Uni-Structural Multi-Structural Relational Extended Abstract INPUT Surface - Deep Learning SOLO Taxonomy 3 Story Intellect

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15. Pre - Structural Uni - Structural Multi - Structural Relational Extended Abstract dunno digging a hole making a trench lots of wires Hoi An is pretty Trenches were made so that the power and phone lines would be under the streets. Hoi An is starting to look like it did years ago. Trenches were made so that the power and phone lines would be under the streets in Hoi An. Just as the Cu Chi tunnels were a safe hiding place in the American war, these Hoi An tunnels make communication safer and help restore the natural beauty of the town. MENU