Taxonomy is a method of systematizing areas of knowledge with a complex organization according to the hierarchical position of each of the considered elements. The concept closest to taxonomy is classification - a form of ordering information in which the studied objects are combined into classes or groups based on common features and characteristics.
History of occurrence
For an accurate understanding of what taxonomy is, it is necessary to study the history of this concept.
The term "taxonomy" was introduced into science in the early 19th century by the French-Swiss biologist Augustin de Candoll. He developed a classification of the studied plants, so taxonomy was at first used only in such a science as botany. After some time, the invented method became widespread not only in botany, but also in other areas of biology, as well as in other systems of scientific knowledge.
Taxonomy has a direct relationship with typology - a method that deals with the creationstructures of objects and combining them into groups using the generalized type of the subject in question.
Taxonomic schemes and categories
The tasks of taxonomy, as one of the subjects of taxonomy, include the establishment of taxonomic ranks and the determination of the gradation of the elements of the system. Thus, the classification is formed by the sequential inclusion of objects of a class in another class according to some general principle. In addition, at the level of each of the classes, the question of the relationship between the existing classes and the volume of one of the selected groups in relation to the other is considered.
In order to single out groups that have in their properties the characteristic of mutual subordination, the concept of taxonomic categories is used. The groups of objects included in the classification system themselves are called taxa. Taxa have common features and properties.
At the last stage of classification, taxonomic schemes are formed - systems of components. According to them, it is possible to trace the factors of creating groups and the properties according to which the objects were allocated to the corresponding groups. Schemes are one-dimensional and multidimensional. One-dimensional schemes, which are considered ideal in taxonomy, are based on the presence of only one general classification criterion. Multidimensional schemes, in turn, take into account a large number of common properties when creating a system.
Types of taxonomy
You can learn more about what taxonomy is and how classifications are created with it from the study of two types of taxonomy:natural and artificial.
Natural taxonomy classifies objects according to the analysis of the available properties of objects. Artificial - introduces one logical principle and, on its basis, creates groups of objects. In some sciences, both types of classification are used at once.
In addition, there is a classification of taxonomy according to the nature of the taxonomic procedure, which also distinguishes two types: qualitative and quantitative taxonomy.
Qualitative taxonomy groups objects according to the presence or absence of common features, and quantitative taxonomy - according to the degree of similarity of objects to each other according to the existing properties. Thus, with the use of qualitative taxonomy, clearly defined classes and groups can be obtained. And quantitative classification, in turn, creates only fields - groups with blurred boundaries, where some objects can belong to several of them at once.
Bloom's Theory
In 1956, the English scientist Benjamin Bloom created a new taxonomy designed for educational use.
To this day, the application of Bloom's taxonomy in the development of curricula and projects is considered one of the most effective and useful methods. In the field of learning, he distinguishes three levels:
- cognitive, related to gaining knowledge;
- affective, tied to emotional reactions to influences;
- psychomotor, which includes the acquisition of anyphysical skills.
Cognitive area
The cognitive domain in Bloom's theory includes the acquisition of knowledge and information, as well as the development of mental abilities. For example: learning and recalling certain facts from memory, building models or schemes that contribute to the development of mental abilities, etc.
As an example of taxonomy at the cognitive level, Bloom identifies six types of cognitive process:
- knowledge - the study and reproduction of information;
- understanding - retelling the meaning of the text with its own interpretation;
- application - the ability to use the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice;
- analysis - the distribution of the whole material into its constituent elements, finding differences between them;
- evaluation - determining the importance of the material in relation to other information;
- creation is the ability to discover new ideas based on other, unrelated pieces of information.
Each of the six types can be considered as one of the transitional levels of complexity of the cognitive level of learning. Therefore, it is advisable to start the educational process from the first of them - consciousness, and gradually move on to the next ones.
Affective area
The concept of Bloom's taxonomy also includes the affective area associated with the emotional state and feelings caused in the student during the educational process. The following types can be attributed to this level:
- perception - student readinesshear what they say and pay attention to other people's words;
- response - the presence of motivation to participate in the educational process, the manifestation of activity;
- learning values - accepting a positive or negative assessment for any object or phenomenon;
- value organization - the ability to prioritize and contrast the unimportant with the more important;
- internalization of values - the introduction of values into one's behavior in the learning process.
Thus, it can be noted that the taxonomy of goals is a technique that affects not only the mental side of learning, but also the emotional one. This has a positive effect on the acquisition and assimilation of new knowledge and information.
Psychomotor area
At the moment, there is the least amount of information about what taxonomy is in the psychomotor field compared to other levels of the educational process. It is known that the area under consideration covers goals that are related to various motor coordination. These include: the acquisition of writing skills, speech, labor training, etc.
Skills considered at the psychomotor level have the same development algorithm: obtaining information about the skill from the given example, its comprehension, independent application in practice and evaluation of the result. Repeating actions many times in the form of a positive experience, as a rule, improves the result over time.
The psychomotor sphere covers two departments of human activity at once: brain and muscle. A study of the literature in this area shows that the considered sphere of the educational process is closely related to the other two. But the manifestation of this connection, like the entire psychomotor level, is the least studied.
The psychomotor sphere is widespread in areas of education such as medical disciplines, art and music, physical education, engineering sciences.
Applying taxonomy
Today, few people know what taxonomy is and what it is for. But, nevertheless, this technique is used in many areas, especially in pedagogy. Bloom's taxonomy to modern times is the object of study by many scientists. Little explored areas continue to be explored and updated with new information. In addition, the theory developed by the English scientist is also applied in practice - directly in the educational process.
Taxonomy, affecting other areas, is no less common in the sciences, where it is necessary to build a clear classification of the objects under study.
