1. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Aligning DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE WITH THE TEKS and THE STAAR OnLine Training
12/16/2013

2. Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires assessments to “measure the depth and breadth of the state academic content standards for a given grade level”. USDE, 2003
The DOK is based on the research of
Dr. Norman Webb from the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Education Research Institute.
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

3. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK Alignment
(Webb, Norman L. “Alignment, Depth of Knowledge, & Change.” Wisconsin Center for Education Research,
Cognitive demands of the TEKS
Cognitive demands of the STAAR
Dr. Webb developed 4 DOK levels to examine the alignment between the cognitive demands of standards and the cognitive demands of assessments.
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

4. What is the purpose of the DOK?
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
What is the purpose of the DOK? 1
Intent and level of student demonstration required by the TEKS matches the STAAR items 2
Instruction is delivered at a level that will promote student achievement
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

5. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Rigor and Relevance
DOK is the degree of depth and complexity of knowledge (rigor) required by the TEKS and the STAAR.
DOK level is determined by the TASK not the grade level or ability of the student.
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

6. Goal of DOK in Assessment
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Goal of DOK in Assessment
DOK’s are a ceiling not a target.
The STAAR includes a variety of DOK’s to ensure
Complexity and rigor
Important information about student learning is captured along an achievement continuum
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

7. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK is NOT
1. The same as Bloom’s Taxonomy
2. The same as “difficulty”
3. About the use of “verbs”
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

8. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Blooms vs. Webb
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Webb’s DOK
1. Knowledge
1. Recall/Reproduction
2. Comprehension
3. Application
2. Skill/Concept
4. Analysis
3. Strategic Thinking
5. Synthesis/Evaluation
4. Extended Thinking
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

9. 1. DOK is not the same as “Bloom’s”
Depth of thinking required to answer a question
Bloom’s
Depth of thinking required to complete an activity
DOK
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

10. Webb’s Levels of Cognitive Complexity
Level 1: Recall
Level 2: Skill/Concept
Level 3: Strategic Thinking
Level 4: Extended Thinking
Depth of Knowledge
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

11. 2. DOK is not about “difficulty”
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
2. DOK is not about “difficulty”
“Difficulty” is a reference to how many students answer a question correctly.
How many of you know the definition of exaggerate?
How many of you know the definition of pellucid?
If most do not know the definition, this word is difficult but that doesn’t change the DOK level of 1
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

12. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK Level 1 - RECALL
Receive or recite facts
Use simple skills/abilities
Oral reading that does not require analysis
Basic text comprehension
Understanding of word or phrase
Examples: Identify figurative language, referencing text details
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

13. DOK 2 – Skills and Concepts
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK 2 – Skills and Concepts
Basic reasoning
Comprehension and processing of text
Analysis of inference
Summarize, interpret, classify, organize, collect, compare
Examples: Using context clues,
predicting outcomes, summarizing events
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

14. DOK Level 3 – Strategic Thinking
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK Level 3 – Strategic Thinking
Deep knowledge
Explain, generalize, connect ideas
Reasoning and planning
Abstract themes
Inferences across entire passage
Examples: Author’s purpose,
summarizing information from multiple sources
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

15. 3. DOK is not about “using verbs”
Depth of thinking required
Context in which the verb is used
DOK Level
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

16. 1 Verb – 3 Levels of Thinking “DESCRIBE”
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
1 Verb – 3 Levels of Thinking “DESCRIBE”
Group activity
Write each of the following statements on an individual post-it.
In your groups read and discuss each statement and assign them a DOK level of 1, 2, or 3.
Place your post-it on the appropriate DOK poster.
DOK 1: Describe two physical characteristics of the wolf in the Three Little Pigs
DOK 2: Describe the differences between the three houses
DOK 3: Describe what kind of house you would build to protect yourself from the wolf
Describe what kind of house you would build to protect yourself from the wolf.
Describe two physical characteristics of the wolf in the Three Little Pigs.
Describe the differences between the three houses each pig built.
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

17. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Webb’s Levels
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

18. DOK Level 4 – Extended Reasoning
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
DOK Level 4 – Extended Reasoning
H.O.T
Application of significant conceptual understanding
Rigor of task requires extended time
Complex analysis of text connections
Synthesis of information from multiple sources
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

19. Applying DOK to Test Items
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

20. Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 1
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 1
Which of the following uses figurative language? A On a rainy day good coffee is like a friendship. B Her coat was wet because it was raining outside. C It was raining heavily and water was getting into the house. D Last year, it rained day and night for a week.
Low complexity- DOK 1
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

21. Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 2
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 2
When the author says “Good coffee is like friendship” he means both – A are rich, warm, and strong B take a long time to make C are something people enjoy D remind people of rainy days
Moderate complexity-DOK 2
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

22. Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 3
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Applying DOK to Test Items – DOK 3
Based on the story, think about what makes a person a good friend and choose the simile that can be used to describe that friend. A Like a brother that is always there B As a giant in front of a problem C Like a clown in the circus of life D As a clock that is always on time
High complexity-DOK 3
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

23. Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
21st Century Thinkers
Discuss the DOK levels of these 21st century skills
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

24. Preparing students for 21st Century Skills with DOK
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Preparing students for 21st Century Skills with DOK
By increasing the DOK levels of activities, teachers can teach students to:
Adapt to challenges
Work collaboratively
Solve problems on their own
Levels 3 and 4 require students to solve challenging problems in groups without the constant supervision of teachers (real-world application)
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR

25. Review Seminar Objectives
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR
Review Seminar Objectives
Understand the concept of Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
Identify the complexity of tasks related to each DOK level
Recognize the instructional rigor we want teachers to attain and demonstrate in daily classroom instruction
Aligning Depth of Knowledge with the TEKS and the STAAR