Posted: February 8th, 2024

SOLO Taxonomy

SOLO Taxonomy: A Framework for Measuring the Depth of Understanding

SOLO Taxonomy is a framework for assessing the level of understanding that students have achieved in a particular subject or task. SOLO stands for Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes, and it was developed by John Biggs and Kevin Collis, two educational researchers who wanted to create a tool that could help teachers design more effective learning experiences.

SOLO Taxonomy consists of five levels, from pre-structural to extended abstract, that describe the complexity and quality of students’ thinking and learning. By using SOLO Taxonomy, teachers can identify where students are in their learning journey, and what steps they need to take to move them to a deeper level of understanding. SOLO Taxonomy can also help students to monitor their own progress and set goals for their learning.

The five levels of SOLO Taxonomy are:

– Pre-structural: At this level, students have no or very little understanding of the topic. They may miss the point, give irrelevant answers, or simply repeat what they have heard without comprehension.
– Unistructural: At this level, students have a basic understanding of one aspect of the topic. They can identify, name, or follow simple instructions, but they cannot connect different aspects or explain why they are important.
– Multistructural: At this level, students have a partial understanding of several aspects of the topic. They can list, describe, or combine different elements, but they cannot relate them to each other or to the overall meaning of the topic.
– Relational: At this level, students have a full understanding of the topic as a whole. They can analyze, compare, contrast, or explain different aspects and how they are related to each other and to the main idea. They can also apply their knowledge to new situations or problems.
– Extended abstract: At this level, students have a deep and creative understanding of the topic. They can generalize, theorize, hypothesize, or create new ideas based on their knowledge. They can also transfer their understanding to different contexts or domains.

An example of how SOLO Taxonomy can be applied to a specific topic is shown below:

Topic: Photosynthesis

– Pre-structural: I don’t know what photosynthesis is.
– Unistructural: Photosynthesis is when plants make food from sunlight.
– Multistructural: Photosynthesis is when plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen.
– Relational: Photosynthesis is a process that converts light energy into chemical energy. Plants use chlorophyll to absorb light and split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to form glucose, which is stored as starch. The oxygen is released as a by-product. Photosynthesis is important for plants because it provides them with food and energy. It is also important for animals because it produces oxygen that they need to breathe.
– Extended abstract: Photosynthesis is an example of how living organisms can transform one form of energy into another. It is also an example of how matter cycles through ecosystems. Photosynthesis can be affected by various factors such as light intensity, temperature, water availability, and carbon dioxide concentration. Photosynthesis can be compared and contrasted with other processes such as cellular respiration, chemosynthesis, or fermentation.

SOLO Taxonomy can be used in conjunction with other frameworks such as Bloom’s Taxonomy or Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences to design learning experiences that cater to different levels of understanding and different types of learners. SOLO Taxonomy can also be used to create rubrics or criteria for assessing students’ work and providing feedback.

References:

Biggs, J., & Collis, K. (1982). Evaluating the quality of learning: The SOLO taxonomy. New York: Academic Press.

Damopolii, E. (2020). The use of solo taxonomy in enhancing student learning in higher education institutions in Albania. European Journal of Education Studies 7(4), 1-14.

Drew C. (2024). SOLO Taxonomy – 5 Levels of Learning Complexity (2024). Retrieved from https://helpfulprofessor.com/solo-taxonomy/

Main P. (2021). A teacher’s guide to SOLO Taxonomy – Structural Learning. Retrieved from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/what-is-solo-taxonomy

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