SOLO taxonomy

What has this got to do with NCEA?

What is SOLO?

SOLO stands for the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes. It was developed by Biggs and Collis (1982) as “a framework for understanding”.

SOLO identifies five stages of understanding. Each stage embraces the previous level but adds something more.

The stages of SOLO

• Prestructural• Unistructural• Multistructural• Relational• Extended abstract

• Prestructuralthe student acquires bits of unconnected information that have no organisation and make no sense. • Unistructural makes simple and obvious connections between pieces of information•Multistructural a number of connections are made, but not the meta-connections between them• Relationalsees the significance of how the various pieces of information relate to one another• Extended abstract can make connections beyond the scope of the problem or question, to generalise or transfer learning into a new situation

Questions that assess thinking

Use of SOLO allows us to balance the cognitive demand of the questions we ask and to scaffold students into deeper thinking and metacognition.

Multistructural questions

Students need to know or use more than one piece of given information, fact, or idea, to answer the question, but do not integrate the ideas.

This is fundamentally an unsorted, unorganised list.

Relational questions

These questions require students to integrate more than one piece of given knowledge, information, fact, or idea. At least two separate ideas are required that, working together, will solve the problem.

Extended abstract questions

These questions involve a higher level of abstraction. The items require the student to go beyond the given information, knowledge, information, or ideas and to deduce a more general rule or proof that applies to all cases.

A change of focus in mathematics• The SOLO hierarchy shifts us from the situation in maths of

“doing more” and “ doing longer tasks” to qualify for a higher grade.

• This change recognises and rewards deeper and more complex thinking along with more effective communication of mathematical ideas and outcomes.

• It is these that are fundamental competencies to mathematics.

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Algebra: Patterns in number

• How many sticks are needed for 3 houses? (unistructural)

• How many sticks are there for 5 houses? (multistructural)

• If 52 houses require 209 sticks, how many sticks do you need to be able to make 53 houses? (relational)

• Make up a rule to count how many sticks are needed for any number of houses. (extended abstract)

Houses 1 2 3

Sticks 5 9 __Given:

Algebra patterns

Algebra: Patterns in number

Achieve = uni and/or multistructural thinking• involves using a range of methods in solving problems

and demonstrating knowledge of number concepts and terms or communicating solutions which would usually require only one or two steps.

AS1.1 Apply numeric reasoning

Algebra: Patterns in number

Merit = Relational thinking• involves one or more of:• selecting and carrying out a logical sequence of steps• connecting different concepts and representations• demonstrating understanding of concepts• forming and using a model, and

• the student will relate findings to a context, or communicate thinking using appropriate mathematical statements.

AS1.1 Apply numeric reasoning

Algebra: Patterns in number

Excellence = Extended abstract thinking • Involves one or more of:• devising a strategy to investigate or solve a problem• identifying relevant concepts in context• developing a chain of logical reasoning, or proof• forming a generalisation, and

• the student will use correct mathematical statements, or communicate mathematical insight.

AS1.1 Apply numeric reasoning

References• Hattie, J.A.C., & Brown, G.T.L. (2004, September). Cognitive processes

in asTTle: The SOLO taxonomy. asTTle Technical Report #43, University of Auckland/Ministry of Education.http://www.tki.org.nz/r/asttle/pdf/technical-reports/techreport43.pdf

• Biggs, J.B. (1999). Teaching for Quality Learning at University. Buckingham: SRHE/Open University Press.

• Biggs, J.B., & Collis, K.F. (1982). Evaluating the Quality of Learning: the SOLO taxonomy New York: Academic Press.

• Pam Hook and Julie Millshttp://hooked-on-thinking.com/solo-taxonomy/

References