Thinking isn’t something we pay much attention to in our daily lives, but there has been extensive research and study on the concept of thinking and how we can think more effectively. Higher-order comprehension, or higher-order thinking (HOT), involves comprehension or thinking that requires more mental engagement. Simply memorising or repeating a fact requires relatively little cognitive effort, while critical thinking and problem-solving skills need more. These are called Higher Order Comprehension Skills.
Understanding Higher Order Comprehension Skills
Higher Order Comprehension Skills involve applying facts and information to acquire other forms of information. For example, a pupil may be asked to interpret something they have just learned, such as why a certain character in a book behaved the way they did or how two historical events are similar. While some children might struggle with these skills, they can be learned and improved over time, just like any other skill.
Higher Order Comprehension Skills go beyond simply memorising and repeating information. They form a foundation for any education, as memorising and learning are very different things. Learners with good higher-order comprehension Skills genuinely understand information, can use it to form connections between different facts, manipulate information to put it together in new ways, and apply information to other problems to find new solutions and form their own opinions.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
In the 1950s, educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom developed a system for identifying different levels of learning skills based on the level of cognition needed to perform each one. Bloom’s Taxonomy is a set of three hierarchical models created to promote higher forms of thinking in education, such as evaluating and analysing concepts, processes, procedures, and principles, as opposed to simply remembering facts.
According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, there are six levels of cognition, from low to high:
- Remembering
- Understanding
- Applying
- Analysing
- Evaluating
- Creating
This is one of the key educational theories referenced when talking about Higher Order Thinking.
Types of Higher Order Comprehension Skills
Higher Order Comprehension Skills encompass various cognitive processes, including:
Evaluate
Evaluating involves justifying a decision, source, or action by considering its various impacts or requirements. For example, one might be asked whether they would recommend a book to a friend and to justify why.
Visualisation
Visualisation is the ability to picture a concept mentally, which can be incredibly useful. It helps with reading maps, depicting scenes and characters in novels, and understanding geometry.
Create
Creating, or synthesising, new information is a pinnacle of human thought. It involves combining, comparing, and evaluating different pieces of information to form something new.
Inference
Making an inference means drawing a conclusion based on existing facts and information. For example, seeing a man holding a wet umbrella in the supermarket might lead one to infer that it’s raining outside, even if they can’t see outside at that moment.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking allows us to make informed decisions based on our knowledge and understanding. For instance, deciding whether to believe in ghosts by evaluating the evidence and claims critically.
Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is a daily activity that involves systematically working through a problem to make an informed decision. Good problem-solvers can come up with multiple ways to address a particular issue and decide which has the most benefit.
The Importance of Higher Order Comprehension Skills
Higher Order Comprehension Skills are vital because they enable learners to do more than merely memorise and repeat information. Learners with these skills can:
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- Understand and manipulate information
- Form connections between different facts
- Apply information to solve new problems
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
Learners who struggle with higher-order comprehension Skills might find it difficult to summarise information, make comparisons, reach new conclusions, or differentiate between fact and opinion.
Difficulties in Learning Higher Order Comprehension Skills
Mastering Higher Order Comprehension Skills can be challenging for some learners. Common difficulties include:
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- Identifying or addressing a problem fully
- Understanding abstract concepts that require high visualisation skills
- Using time and energy efficiently
- Communicating information clearly
- Deciding the best way to approach a problem or find information
Improving Higher Order Comprehension Skills
Parents and teachers can encourage and improve learners’ higher-order comprehension Skills by responding to questions in ways that promote further thought. Here are a few strategies:
Show and Tell
Some pupils might struggle with verbal concepts, while others might have problems with visualisation. By both explaining and demonstrating a concept, you can enhance their understanding.
Start with the Basics
When presented with new information, students might default to memorising rather than understanding. Building a new concept from the ground up can improve their comprehension bit by bit.
Use Visual Aids
Providing images that learners can associate with a concept helps them make connections and acquire a stronger understanding.
Encourage Questioning
When a pupil asks a question, respond in a way that encourages further thought. For example, ask follow-up questions like “Why do you think that is?” This encourages the child to consider possible explanations and use their prior knowledge.
Reading Aloud and Discussion
Reading with your child and discussing the content can strengthen their comprehension skills. Ask guiding questions about the story, predict what might happen next, and discuss characters and their motivations.
Online Resources and Educational Apps
Educational apps and online resources can make learning engaging and interactive. Platforms like Prodigy English, Epic, and Headsprout provide curriculum-aligned reading and language questions, interactive stories, and vocabulary games.
Game-Based Learning
Games like charades, telephone, Pictionary, and Scattergories connect meaning with words, boost background knowledge, and make learning fun.
How can Educate Excellence help?
Here at Educate Excellence, we provide support for both parents and children throughout primary school. We equip children with the resources to tackle comprehension questions and analyse texts. If you need help or support, please contact either Fayas, the head of education, or our PLOs who will be happy to provide advice where they can.
Higher-order comprehension Skills are essential for genuine understanding and learning. By incorporating interactive and engaging strategies, parents and teachers can help children develop these skills. Remember, fostering a love for reading and thinking critically can have a lasting impact on a child’s academic success and personal growth.
