Using the SOLO taxonomy to help get a good understanding of The Nature of Science.

1. SOLO on
Nature of
Science
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

2. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
SOLO, or the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes describes five
stages of understanding of a subject. It can be used for assessment
and to design learning activities. This taxonomy was developed by John
Biggs and Kevin Collis.
SOLO enables the learner to be in control of their learning and work
out what their next step is. There are many examples of how to use
SOLO on the web and links are at the end of this presentation.
I will briefly talk you through the different stages here, then show you
how they can be applied to the Nature of Science and assessment.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

3. SOLO
Stages
Not sure what is really going on. May have a few
ideas but nothing is connected and/or is lacking in
relevance.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

4. SOLO
Stages
Might have one relevant idea or concept.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

5. SOLO
Stages
Has several relevant ideas and may be able to make
connections between these ideas. However the
significance between them has yet to be made.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

6. SOLO
Stages
Shows a good understanding of ideas or
concepts and can see how things are
connected or related to each other.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

7. SOLO
Stages
Has a real good understanding of subject, can
make great connections and can transfer
knowledge into a wider context and apply it.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

8. SOLO
Stages
All the way through this process, the learner
asks…
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

9. SOLO
Stages
Each stage moves on to the next in
order. Sometimes this process can take a
while, other times it can be quick.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

10. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
Here is a way of looking at our Nature of
Science Strands with the SOLO taxonomy.
You can treat it like a rubric.
• Participating and contributing
• Communicating in science
• Understanding about science
• Investigating in science
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

11. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
Prestructural Unistructural Multistructural Relational Extended
Abstract
I need help. I don’t I understand and can I understand and can I understand and can I understand and can
understand what define something define several things define several things define several things
Understanding about
science is. from a scientific from a scientific from a scientific from a scientific
viewpoint viewpoint viewpoint and how viewpoint and how
they relate to each they relate to each
science
other other. I can then use
the knowledge I’ve
learnt and apply it to
something else. (Eg
Cartesian diver-Argo
float. or Rainbow
made with hose to
rainbow in sky)
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

12. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
Prestructural Unistructural Multistructural Relational Extended
Abstract
I need help. I don’t I can do a simple I know more than one I can hypothesise and I can choose from a
know where to start procedure or way to investigate and choose from a range range of strategies
Investigating in
with investigating investigation can form a simple of strategies to and give reasons for
hypothesis investigate and give my choices. I can
science
reasons for my reflect on my
choices. hypothesis and either
record my findings or
re-investigate with any
adjustments I think
should be made.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

13. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
Prestructural Unistructural Multistructural Relational Extended
Abstract
I need help. I don’t I can identify I can recognise I know when to I can use scientific
Communicating in
recognise or use different science different science use different words correctly
any scientific words words and use science words and can
hypothesise and
science
words them occasionally correctly
evaluate doing so. I
can evaluate my
judgements
against real-world
consequences
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

14. SOLO on
Nature
of
Science
Prestructural Unistructural Multistructural Relational Extended
Abstract
I don’t participate at all In investigations I can be In investigations I can be In investigations I can be In investigations I can be
Participating and contributing
in Science involved if someone involved and know what involved and know what involved and know what
tells me to do needs to be done needs to be done. I needs to be done. I
something. I can volunteer ideas in work well with others work well with others
I can share one idea a class discussion. and share the tasks. and share the tasks. I
when the teacher asks When I speak I respond am able to hypothesise
me to. to others ideas and what I think the
volunteer my ideas outcome will be and
evaluate our group
findings.
When I speak I
volunteer ideas respond
to others ideas, evaluate
their ideas to suggest
new ideas and
directions to consider.
What am I doing?
How well am I
doing it? What’s
my next step?

15. So…
What are you
doing?
How well are
you doing it?
What’s your next
step?

16. Useful Links:
SOLO Taxonomy
SOLO Taxonomy with Pam Hook - YouTube
Quality Questioning Using the SOLO Taxonomy An online workshop
Learning and Teaching
HOT Maps and SOLO Taxonomy
Free Resources