Taxonomy of Marzano: Description, Goals, and its Components
Learning in the animal kingdom is essential for survival, but as advanced animals, human beings have a complex cognitive capacity that sets us apart. Instead of being mere receptacles of information, humans process what they learn and use it intelligently. To explain and enhance this human learning capacity, Marzano and Kendall's taxonomy is a valuable tool.
In the early 21st century, Marzano's Taxonomy emerged as an innovative educational framework aimed at promoting higher-order thinking and critical reflection. A successful alternative to Bloom's Taxonomy, Marzano's Taxonomy offers a more practical and contemporary approach to improve learning experiences and outcomes.
Within this taxonomy, learning is divided into two key components: the Cognitive System and the Metacognitive System. The Cognitive System deals with the mental processes involved in learning and remembering information, composed of six levels: Retrieving Information, Understanding, Analyzing, Applying, Evaluating, and Creating. On the other hand, the Metacognitive System emphasizes the development of metacognitive skills, crucial for long-term retention and application of knowledge, and includes the following abilities: Planning, Monitoring, Evaluating, and Reflecting.
Interestingly, the knowledge domains and levels in Marzano's Taxonomy are not isolated. As new knowledge is acquired, it passes through the cognitive level and ultimately leads to metacognitive processes. This could be applying a mathematical formula, learning a new language, or solving a problem.
Marzano's Taxonomy stands out in various ways compared to its predecessor, Bloom's Taxonomy:
- Learning occurs gradually: Marzano’s Taxonomy allows learning to occur at the student's pace, making it more practice-oriented and personalized.
- Attention to the type of information: Marzano’s model takes into account the type of information or knowledge promoted, considering factors like motivation, memory, emotions, and metacognition, leading to more precise learning objectives.
- Adapting to real-world scenarios: Marzano's Taxonomy emphasizes the application and synthesis of knowledge, preparing students for authentic problem-solving and digital literacy in today's fast-paced world.
In the workplace or educational contexts, this taxonomy is particularly useful when working with adults by focusing on the development of metacognitive abilities. The versatility of this taxonomy extends to allow for more engaging and effective learning strategies to promote deep learning and critical thinking. In conclusion, Marzano's Taxonomy is an essential aid for teachers, guiding the design and implementation of learning activities to promote student success in a rapidly changing world.
In the dynamic realm of the 21st century, Marzano's Taxonomy, a contemporary educational framework, highlights the importance of both cognitive and metacognitive processes in learning, encompassing elements like understanding, analyzing, evaluating, and creating, as well as planning, monitoring, reflecting, and applications in various domains such as sports, emotions, psychology, and education-and-self-development. This taxonomy encourages lifelong learning and critical reflection by adapting to real-world scenarios and catering to the development of metacognitive abilities, particularly beneficial in adult settings.
