 In this video, I want to talk about how you can decode the competency lists using Bloom's taxonomy. Competency lists, yes, these are those lists that usually you get at the end of your course outlines, and if you understand how to read them, not only tell you what's going to be in the course, but also how these things are going to be tested or what is expected of you. Most of these competency lists, they use Bloom's taxonomy to define the level at which you have to be able to do something. The lowest level is remember. Often the statements are something like the student is able to define, to state. It's literally the lowest statement because all you have to do is to remember what you have read or what the teacher has said and you give it back on the test. If you have a class with a lot of this level of competencies, it might look intimidating at the beginning, but actually in the long run, this is the most easiest class you can ever have. Number one, if you have internet access, you can just look these things up on the internet. Number two, once you have figured out which techniques for memorization is working for you, you can just drop memorize your way through it without having to think too much about what's actually going on. The next higher level is understand. Often stated as the student is able to describe or explain or just plainly it says the student understands. This is a bit higher in the sense that not only have you should be able to write back what you read and heard, but you actually have to understand it. A good test to see if you're at this level is if you're able to explain a concept or a theory to a friend without using the exact words that your teacher was using. Even better, so if you can do that in another language that most likely you have understood. The third level is apply. You have to be able to not only remember, understand, but also use what you learn to do something with it. For example, solve a problem, use an equation in a certain context. Level four, you're asked to analyze something, you have to analyze a theory or connect them with some other theories. The fifth and second highest level is evaluate. Now you're asked to compare or defend a certain concept or theory. The highest level in Bloom's taxonomy is create. At this level, you're able to design something. For example, you could design your own test to evaluate competencies. You can reorganize things, you can make your little cheat sheet where you put all the important information that you learned in the class on one little sheet. You make a summary. Now, again, what is this useful for? If in your competency list, it says you have to define or state something, it shouldn't be that suddenly on a test, you're asked to evaluate or analyze that concept. If, however, it says clearly, you have to be able to solve it, use it, then you have to be able not only to memorize and copy what you learned, but you actually to understand it and use it in different contexts. For example, if it says to use a certain theorem, there is no point in trying to memorizing all possible problems that you have seen in class, because if the level at which you're going to be tested is application, that means you should be able to solve any problem related to the concept, not just the ones that you see and that you have already memorized. I hope this little introduction will help you to a better understand not only what you're supposed to learn, but also at what level you're supposed to learn it and at what level you're going to be tested on it. If you want to know more about this, just make a little internet search on Bloom's revised taxonomy and you will find long lists of what kind of verbs might be used for what level of competency.