1. SOLO TAXONONY Click on these symbols to reveal an item of information.
Overview
Pre-Structural
Use
Uni-Structural
Thinking
Multi-Structural
3 Story Links
Relational
Extended Abstract
Example Hoi An
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Prepared by Mike Whiteman: Waitomo ICT Cluster

2. SOLO stands for Structure of the Observed Learning Outcomes and was developed by John Biggs and Kevin Collis.
In simple terms, the taxonomy presents a systematic way to describe how learner performance grows in complexity when mastering tasks (in an educational setting). It defines levels of increasing complexity in a learners understanding of an idea. Learners may not exhibit all stages. Biggs describes it as “a framework for understanding understanding.”
It seeks to provide a way to identify connections that learners make, with each level adding more.
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3. Helping learners to look at their own work in relation to this
taxonomy can help in two ways:
* an assessment framework independent of ‘content knowledge’
* a model to help show how a piece of work can be improved
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4. If you are using rubrics and/or success criteria, then use of the
SOLO Taxonomy may be more productive educationally, because
thinking about the structure responses may provide better
understanding of ideas than the listing of specific knowledge bytes.
As such, it can help learners develop an understanding of thinking,
rather than knowing of thinking.
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5. QUANTITAVE
Pre - Structural
the point hasn’t been understood
the task has not been worked on in an appropriate way
a too simple way of going about something has been used
bits without any organisation or sense
irrelevant information
no meaningful response
may appear to be learning, but just ‘chanting’
no understanding
misses the point
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6. QUANTITAVE
Uni - Structural
one aspect of a task is picked up and used
maybe a simple, obvious connection but no significance attached
only focuses on one relevant aspect
terms may be used but are not developed further in any way
focuses on one issue in a complex case
identify, memorise, carry out a simple procedure
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7. QUANTITAVE
Multi - Structural
several aspects of a tasked picked up and used, but not linked
aspects of a task are treated independently and additively
aspects like a disorganised list with no relationships recognised
a number of statements that are not built on in any way
if there are connections they are very simple
the significance of statements as a whole is not grasped
‘knowledge telling,’ ‘cut and paste’
described by Biggs as “seeing the trees but not the wood”
enumerate, classify, describe, list, combine, do algorithms
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8. QUALITATIVE
Relational
integration of ideas/aspects of the task into a coherent whole
this is usually seen to be an adequate understanding of a topic
significance of the parts in relation to the whole is recognised
several parts are integrated into a coherent whole
details link to conclusions
meaning is understood
able to apply a concept to a familiar situation
compare/contrast, explain causes, analyse, relate, apply
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9. QUALITATIVE
Extended Abstract
connections are made not only within a topic, but beyond it
there is transfer from the specific to the general
generalisations are made beyond the information given
new and broader issues are identified
the ‘through the roof’ notion of the Three Story Intellect model
the Relational level at a higher level of abstraction
theorise, generalise, hypothesise, reflect, generate
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10. Surface - Deep Learning
3 Story Intellect
SOLO Taxonomy
Surface - Deep Learning
INPUT
Pre-Structural
Uni-Structural
Multi-Structural
Relational
Extended Abstract
Surface Deep
PROCESS
OUTPUT
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15. Hoi An is starting to look like it did years ago.
Pre - Structural
Trenches were made so that the power and phone lines would be under the streets in Hoi An.
Just as the Cu Chi tunnels were a safe hiding place in the American war, these Hoi An tunnels make communication safer and help restore the natural beauty of the town.
dunno
digging a hole
Uni - Structural
making a trench
lots of wires
Hoi An is pretty
Trenches were made so that the power and phone lines would be under the streets.
Hoi An is starting to look like it did years ago.
Multi - Structural
Relational
Extended Abstract
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