Premium
The Blooming Anatomy Tool (BAT): A discipline‐specific rubric for utilizing Bloom's taxonomy in the design and evaluation of assessments in the anatomical sciences
Author(s) -
Thompson Andrew R.,
O'Loughlin Valerie D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
anatomical sciences education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.126
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1935-9780
pISSN - 1935-9772
DOI - 10.1002/ase.1507
Subject(s) - rubric , inter rater reliability , taxonomy (biology) , bloom's taxonomy , bloom , psychology , computer science , medical education , biology , medicine , cognition , mathematics education , neuroscience , zoology , rating scale , ecology , developmental psychology
Bloom's taxonomy is a resource commonly used to assess the cognitive level associated with course assignments and examination questions. Although widely utilized in educational research, Bloom's taxonomy has received limited attention as an analytical tool in the anatomical sciences. Building on previous research, the Blooming Anatomy Tool (BAT) was developed. This rubric provides discipline‐specific guidelines to Blooming anatomy multiple‐choice questions (MCQs). To test the efficacy of the BAT, a group of volunteers were randomly split up and asked to Bloom a series of anatomy MCQs using either the BAT or a traditional Bloom's reference called Bloom's Learning Objectives (BLO). Both groups utilized each rubric for a different series of MCQs. Examination question categorizations made using each rubric were tested for accuracy and interrater reliability. In addition, previous experience in anatomy and Bloom's taxonomy were considered. Results demonstrated that volunteers using the BAT had consistently higher levels of interrater reliability, but accuracy varied and was similar between rubrics. Neither measure was substantially impacted by experience in Bloom's taxonomy or anatomy. A poststudy survey indicated that volunteers strongly preferred the BAT and felt it was more helpful in categorizing anatomy MCQs than the BLO. These results suggest that the BAT can be useful in educational research in the anatomical sciences to aid in aligning observer judgment on Bloom taxonomic levels and improve consistency, especially when used in conjunction with a norming session prior to data collection. Anat Sci Educ 8: 493–501. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.