DOK - Depth of Knowledge with Alice Keeler

Paperless Is Not a Pedagogy

Alice Keeler

Depth of Knowledge (DOK) is a taxonomy for critical thinking.

Students follow steps, an algorithm, memorize

DOK 2 - Skill/Concept

There is an answer key, but some level of "figure it out."

DOK 3 - Strategic Thinking

Make a claim and cite it with evidence.More complex reasoning.

DOK 4 - Extended Thinking

DOK is not about "hard" but rather "complex reasoning."

Live in DOK 2 and DOK 3

“Live in DOK 2 and DOK 3. Visit DOK 1 and DOK 4.” – Shelley Burgess

Ditch the DOK Wheel

While common to see the DOK wheel when doing a search for Depth of Knowledge, steer away from the wheel. DOK is not about verbs. It is about critical thinking levels and that does not fit accurately into a verb wheel.

Depth of Knowledge (DOK)

Track your DOK levels for your activities and lessons. Who is doing most of the talking? Who is doing most of the thinking? Having a better understanding of DOK helps you to better lesson plan to ensure that more critical thinking is happening in your classroom.

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