Cognitive levels of instruction and student performance in college of agriculture courses

s. The Translation level includes six categories of behavior that indicate the use of knowledge by restating facts in a different form or by giving examples. The Interpretation level also includes six categories. This level focuses upon thought which is indicative of an understanding of relationships (i.e. giving reasons). Table 2 Comparison of the Cognitive Levels of Teaching and Learning Included in Bloom's Taxonomy and the Florida Taxonomy of Cognitive Behavior Bloom's Taxonomy Florida Taxonomy of Cognitive Behavior Knowledge Knowledge Comprehension Translation Interpretation Application Application Analysis Analysis Synthesis Synthesis Evaluation Evaluation 43 The remaining three levels of the FTCB are Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. They include eleven, nine, and two categories of behavior respectively and these categories are comparable to those specified by Bloom et al. (1956). Appendix B, which is an example of the actual form used, provides a complete listing of the levels of cognition and specific categories associated with each in the FTCB. The FTCB and a manual describing its use were developed by Brown, Ober, Soar, and Webb (Simon and Boyer, 1974). This instrument was tested and used in a number of studies including those of Brown (1968), Bane (1969), Brown et al. (1969), Wood (1969), Brown and Bane (1970), and Brown and Webb (1973). The validity of the FTCB is based upon its direct derivation from Bloom's Taxonomy. Consequently, it is argued that the FTCB can be considered valid in light of the support generally given to Bloom's Taxonomy as a means of identifying behaviors in the various levels of cognition. Reliability of the FTCB is dependent upon the raters' utilization of the instrument. In this study, a single rater was involved in assessment of course experiences using the FTCB. The rater received training from a researcher with extensive experience in the use of the FTCB. Training involved an explanation of the use of the instrument followed by practice using video taped teaching episodes. Initial practice sessions were conducted with the trainer present to provide guidance in the use of the instrument.