Structure of observed learning outcome

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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The structure of observed learning outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy is a model that describes levels of increasing complexity in student's understanding of subjects. It was proposed by John B. Biggs and K. Collis and has since gained popularity.

The model

The model consists of five levels of understanding

Pre-structural – The task is not attacked appropriately; the student hasn’t really understood the point and uses too simple a way of going about it.

Uni-structural – The student's response only focuses on one relevant aspect.

Multi-structural – The student's response focuses on several relevant aspects but they are treated independently and additively. Assessment of this level is primarily quantitative.

Relational – The different aspects have become integrated into a coherent whole. This level is what is normally meant by an adequate understanding of some topic.

Extended abstract – The previous integrated whole may be conceptualised at a higher level of abstraction and generalised to a new topic or area.

References

Structure of observed learning outcome Wikipedia

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