Depth of Knowledge Information

What is Depth of Knowledge?
Why is DOK Important?
Resources

What is Depth of Knowledge?

Depth of Knowledge is the degree of depth or complexity of knowledge standards and assessments require; this criterion is met if the assessment is as demanding cognitively as the expectations standards are set for students.

DOK is NOT.....
                  about Verbs - Verbs are not always used appropriately.
                about "difficulty" - It is not about the student or level of difficulty for the student - it requires looking at the assessment                         item not student work in order to determine the level. DOK is about the item/standard - not the student.

DOK is....
                   about what FOLLOWS the verb. What comes after the verb is more important than the verb itself.
                   about the complexity of mental processing that must occur to answer a question.

Remember DOK...
                     Descriptive, not a taxonomy
                     Focuses on how deeply the student has to know the content in order to respond.
                     Not the same as difficulty.

There are four levels of DOK...

DOK 1: (recall) Recall - Recall or recognition of a fact, information, concept, or procedure..

Webb's DOK 1 Aspects :

Identify Who , What, When, Where, Why
Recall facts, terms, concepts, trends, generalizations and theories

Recall elements and details of story structure such as sequence of events, character, plot and setting
Use a variety of tools
Recognize or identify specific information contained in graphics
Define
Describe
Identify purposees
Label
Measure
Illustrate
Repeat, quote, recite, name, tell, match, state, use

DOK 2: (skill/concept) Basic application of Skills and Concepts - Use of information, conceptual knowledge, following or selecting appropriate procedures, two or more steps with decision points along the way, routine problems, organizing/displaying data.

Webb's DOK 2 Aspects :

    Graph
    Classify, Organize, Categorize, Construct
    Separate
    Cause/Effect
    Estimate, Compare, Observe, Interpret, Distinguish, Show
    Infer
    Relate
    Use Context Clues
    Describe how or why
    Give an example
    Solve multi-step problems (A two step problem is not automatically a DOK 2 if the steps require only rote or mechanical knowledge or skills)

DOK 3: (strategic thinking) Strategic Thinking - Requires reasoning, developing a plan or sequence of steps to approach a problem; requires some decision making and justification; abstract and complex; often having more than one possible answer.

Webb's DOK 3 Aspects

Revise, crique, formulate, draw conclusions
Investigate, construct
Hypothesize,
Cite Evidence
Assess

Make ands upport decisions
Recognize and explain misconceptions

DOK 4: (extended thinking) Extended Thinking - An investigation or application to real work; requires time to research, think, and process multiple conditions of the problem or task non-routine manipulations, across disciplines/content areas/multiple sources, requires complex reasoning, planning, developing most usually over an extended period of time.

Webb's DOK 4 Aspects:

Design
Synthesize
Criqute
Analyze
Create
Prove
Apply and adapt information to real-world situations
Complex reasoning with planning, investigating or developing a product that will most likely require an extended period of time-must require applying significant conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking

Why is DOK important?

Teachers can no longer rely soley on "tell-me-what-I told-you" assessments; new assessments must be created requiring students to demonstrate and apply what they have learned.

Should DOK change the way I teach?

Instruction, assignments, and classroom assessment must incorporate the same expectations. DOK levels for a targeted objective must mirror the DOK level for the assessment.

Teachers need to examine if their required student work and activities are keeping students engaged in activity or engaged in learning. Not all activities help students learn.

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Resources

DOK Tutorial

DOK Chart
Levels for Determining Depth of Knowledge (pdf)
Teachers In-Depth Content Knowledge: Definition & Checklist
Instruction and Assessment (Word)
APPENDIX 4 – DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE METRICS AND RELATED PEDAGOGY
[PDF] Four Levels of Depth of Knowledge