As educators, we strive to instill critical thinking skills in our students. These skills are crucial for solving problems, making informed decisions, and navigating our increasingly complex world. In an era of generative ai (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.), analysis and critique become much more valuable. One tool that helps us categorize and improve these skills is the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) framework. DOK is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, although I like to include DOK 0 for tasks like “copying” that don’t require any retrieval. In this article I will explore “What is DOK 2?”
Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
DOK, or Depth of Knowledge, was developed by Dr. Norman Webb as a framework for categorizing tasks based on the complexity of thinking required. DOK levels range from 1 (Remembering and Reproduction) to 4 (Extended Thinking).
My quick and dirty for DOK:
“How much do you have to calculate?”
DOK is not how difficult a task is, but how much complex reasoning there is.
Robert Kaplinsky He describes on his blog how difficult it is to build a rocket to the moon, but there is a guide on how to build it and if you follow the instructions it should work. Raising a child is complex. What works for one child may not necessarily work for another.
What is DOK 2?
DOK 2, also called “Skill/Concept”, involves:
1. Understanding of concepts: Beyond mere recall, DOK 2 students interact with content and understand relationships between ideas.
2. Apply skills and concepts: At this level, students can use a skill or concept in a situation that requires decision making, reasoning, or both.
3. Processing information: Students often need to categorize, organize, compare, or contrast information to complete DOK 2 tasks.
Examples of DOK 2 tasks include:
Math:
1. Given a sequence, students predict the next numbers based on the pattern.
2. Students classify triangles based on side lengths and angles.
3. Interpret information from a graph or table.
4. Solve word problems that require a single operation.
5. Draw conclusions from the data in a table.
English Language Arts:
6. Compare and contrast characters within or between texts.
7. Make predictions about the outcome of a story based on textual evidence.
8. Identify the main idea of a passage.
9. Interpret the meaning of a metaphor or simile.
10. Summarize the plot of a story without copying the text.
Science:
11. Design an experiment to test the effects of sunlight on plant growth.
12. Classify animals based on their characteristics.
13. Predict the outcome of a simple chemical reaction.
14. Draw a food chain based on the information given.
15. Interpret the results of a basic laboratory experiment.
Social Sciences:
16. Compare two historical events or figures.
17. Interpret information from a historical map.
18. Identify the main idea of a primary source document.
19. Predict the next event on a historical timeline.
20. Classify types of government according to certain characteristics.
Physical education:
21. Demonstrate proper technique for a basic volleyball serve.
22. Compare the rules of two different games or sports.
23. Interpret the benefits of regular exercise from a graph.
24. Design a basic fitness routine based on specific objectives.
25. Predict results of sporting events based on team statistics.
Music:
26. Compare two pieces of music from different genres.
27. Interpret the mood of a piece based on musical elements.
28. Identify patterns in a piece of music.
29. Predict the next note in a melody based on a pattern.
30. Summarize the theme of a song’s lyrics.
Art:
31. Compare and contrast two works of art from different eras.
32. Interpret the mood of a painting based on the choice of colors.
33. Design a piece inspired by a famous artist.
34. Predict trends in art based on past movements.
35. Summarize the main idea of a work of art without copying it.
Foreign language:
36. Compare and contrast cultural customs from two different countries.
37. Predict the next line in a conversation based on the context.
38. Classify verbs according to conjugation patterns.
39. Interpret the main idea of a short passage in a foreign language.
40. Design a dialogue using specific vocabulary words.
Health:
41. Compare nutritional data between two food products.
42. Interpret a food label to identify healthy ingredients.
43. Design a balanced meal plan for one day.
44. Predict the health effects of a certain habit or behavior.
45. Summarize the steps of a first aid procedure.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology“>technology:
46. Compare two different software based on their features.
47. Predict the next trend in technology based on current events.
48. Interpretation of data from a digital analysis report.
49. Design a basic web page layout.
50. Summarize the functions of a particular digital tool or application.
Critical thinking is at least DOK 2
When we talk about critical thinking, it means elevating tasks beyond simply remembering facts or information. Following an algorithm or set of instructions, even the most difficult ones, is still DOK 1. DOK 1: “Identify the discriminant of a quadratic equation that is not presented in its standard format.” This requires the student to perform several steps and can be challenging. However, if students carefully follow the steps in their notes, they can be successful. There is no level of decision making in this question.
Beware of the DOK wheel
If you Google DOK you will surely come across the dreaded DOK wheel. As Erik Francis points out, the wheel is imprecise. It really requires its own complex analysis of the task to ask “how complex is the students’ level of reasoning?”
Did the students have to solve anything? Does it justify your reasoning? Note that “show your work” does not justify the reasoning. It is identifying the steps of an algorithm that was followed.
When you directly show students how to complete a task and they follow your steps to complete that task, the DOK level of the task is reduced to recall. Are students identifying the patterns or are we telling them the patterns? This makes a big difference when it comes to how students approach a task on their own.
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Critical thinking can be measured on a 4-point depth of knowledge scale. What is DOK 2 and how is it different from DOK 1?
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