Although Bloom’s Taxonomy has had its detractors, the revisions to the taxonomy and the overwhelming number of current applications of the taxonomy show how well Bloom’s has endured the test of time. In Bloom’s Taxonomy: What’s Old Is New Again, Cecelia Munzenmaier discusses the history and revisions of Bloom’s Taxonomy and examines how it is being used. She describes why it has endured despite criticisms and how it can help instructors, instructional designers, and educators of all kinds.
The revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy deserves special note, as it makes it easier to target precisely the desired performance of learners. The new version has two dimensions—knowledge and cognitive processes—and each has subcategories that are more extensive and specific. The new emphasis on cognitive processes remedies a weakness in the original taxonomy. Bloom’s Taxonomy has also been updated to include digital technologies; Andrew Churches married Bloom’s cognitive levels to 21st-century digital skills.