Lower order thinking skills are fundamental mental abilities that form the basis for more complex cognitive processes. These skills involve manipulating information in a straightforward way, such as:
- Retrieving information: Recalling facts, definitions, or experiences from your memory.
- Recognizing patterns: Identifying similarities and differences between objects or concepts.
- Following instructions: Completing tasks according to a set of directions.
- Applying rules: Using established procedures or principles to solve problems.
Lower order thinking skills are essential for building a strong foundation for higher order thinking, which involves critical analysis, evaluation, and creative problem-solving.
Lower order thinking skills are often referred to as basic cognitive skills. These are the fundamental building blocks of critical thinking and involve manipulating information in a straightforward way.
Here are some examples of lower order thinking skills:
- Retrieving information: Recalling facts, definitions, or experiences from your memory.
- Recognizing patterns: Identifying similarities and differences between things.
- Classifying: Grouping things together based on a shared characteristic.
- Ordering: Sequencing information in a logical way.
These skills are essential for forming a foundation for higher-order thinking, which involves analysis, evaluation, and creative problem-solving.
Lower order thinking skills ( LOTS) are fundamental mental abilities that form the basis for more complex thinking. These skills involve manipulating information in a straightforward way, such as:
- Remembering facts and details
- Identifying similarities and differences
- Classifying information
- Following instructions
- Applying simple rules
These skills are crucial for building a foundation of knowledge and competence. They are essential for tasks like:
- Reading comprehension
- Basic math operations
- Following directions
While LOTS are important, critical thinking skills (CTS) take information processing to a higher level. CTS involves analyzing information, evaluating evidence, drawing conclusions, and solving problems.
Lower order thinking skills (LOTS) are basic and fundamental cognitive processes. These skills include:
- Retrieving knowledge from memory
- Breaking down knowledge into components
- Determining how components relate to each other and the overall structure or task
- Making judgments based on criteria and standards
Some examples of LOTS include:
- Observation: Gathering information through sensory perception
- Memorization: Storing and recalling information
- Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting information
LOTS are the foundation for more complex processing levels, or higher order thinking skills (HOTS). Some examples of HOTS include: Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis.
Here are some examples of lower order questions:
- What are the three types of rock?
- What is the largest planet in the solar system?
- What is the average life expectancy in the UK?
Additional Sources:
- https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/pdf/bloom_pyramid.pdf
- https://fourweekmba.com/lower-order-thinking-skills/
- https://jonathansandling.com/low-and-high-order-questions-for-teachers/
- https://fourweekmba.com/lower-order-thinking-skills/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-you-give-some-examples-of-lower-order-thinking-skills-and-higher-order-thinking-skills
