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Exploring Webb’s Depth of Knowledge

In order to more accurately analyze the types of questions offered in standardized assessments, Norman L. Webb developed a system called Depth of Knowledge. Rather than categorize questions by difficulty, this system categorizes them by complexity. In other words, questions are categorized by the type of thinking that is required to adequately answer them. This method allows assessments to be aligned more accurately with the standards they represent. The four categories are as follows:

The verbs shown in Webb’s image above are examples of words frequently found within each type of question. However, there are many exceptions and more information on how to identify and categorize assessment questions into the correct level of complexity is explored in this blog post, along with examples of each type of question.

Recall and Reproduction

The Wowzers curriculum embraces Webb’s Depth of Knowledge, and includes assessment questions from all four levels. The first category is “recall and reproduction.” Questions from this level require students to recall a fact, term, or procedure. When answering these types of questions, students are not required to do anything beyond remember a particular definition, type of computation, or formula. These questions often ask them to “define” or “compute” a basic fact or one-step calculation.

In this question, students are asked to recall a series of facts and procedures regarding integers. At this level, students must understand the information (they are not simply reciting information verbatim), but they are not yet using this information in a complex manner.

Skills and Concepts

At this second, more complex level, students are asked to use information or conceptual knowledge. These questions often have two or three steps. To answer the question, students must make a decision about how to approach the problem. It often requires them to organize, summarize, predict, or estimate.

In this question, students are asked to estimate the value of a series of square roots. This is a multi-step process that requires the student to analyze each number and go through a series of steps to correctly categorize it.

Strategic Thinking

In the next step of complexity, students must develop a plan to solve non-routine problems using multiple steps. There is sometimes more than one correct answer, and thinking is more abstract. Questions often ask students to justify their choices or support their ideas with details and examples.

In this question, students are asked to analyze a graph, consider how someone might find it misleading, and then describe their reasoning. This level of abstract thinking requires a higher depth of knowledge.

Extended Thinking

In this more complex type of question, questions require students to investigate and process multiple conditions or sources. These questions often take a much longer time to answer. Most assessments do not include questions of this complexity, and they are often instead included in projects and longer-term activities. To address these extended thinking questions, Wowzers includes offline activities that teachers can print out at any time.

In this assignment, students are asked to consider multiple conditions and go through a series of steps in order to solve a probability question. Because questions like this require a longer amount of time and text to thoroughly answer, Wowzers includes a similar assignment for each section of work, in addition to the daily and weekly assessments.

What are the Standards for Mathematical Practice?


1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.


2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.



 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.


4. Model with mathematics.


5. Use appropriate tools strategically.


6. Attend to precision.


7. Look for and make use of structure.



8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.


The Science of Learning

A lot of research has been done into the science of how we learn, but how does it relate to online, game-based learning?

Brain-based research emphasizes the fact that engagement must be the goal of all educators. When students are not engaged, their minds wander and learning isn’t effective. When engaged, students are excited to learn. Higher levels of engagement are associated with students who want to learn more and apply what they have learned in the real world.

Every brain is unique, which means strategies need to include a variety of activities that build not only declarative knowledge but also underlying cognitive skills. A great way to accomplish this is by including online activities that motivate this new generation of digital natives. Game-based learning improves knowledge along with a variety of cognitive skills, including memory, thinking, processing, sequencing, and attention.

Because people absorb information differently, generally through some combination of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning, blended learning programs should include activities that call for movement and a hands-on approach to learning that addresses the physical learning system of the brain.

Most students today have grown up with technology and, in a sense, demand the engaging content that they have grown accustomed to through online gaming. Students expect to receive immediate feedback and move at their own pace, which frees them from the fear of failing and satisfies both the cognitive and the emotional centers of the brain. The core online skills that students develop can then be applied to offline and online activities that focus on problem solving, communication, and creativity. 

Assessing student knowledge is the key to success. Today’s assessments typically include a variety of interactive manipulatives and tools.  Through practice, students can concentrate on answering the content questions without having to figure out how to manipulate the technology, giving us a clearer picture of what they know and don’t know.

These new types of questions can actually stand alone as learning tools for students. Different question types (such as extended response, sorting information, placing numbers on a number line, etc.) give us a much more accurate picture of what a student truly understands versus the old method of filling in a bubble.

Not only is digital, game-based learning fun for students, it’s also supported by research and provides endless opportunities for educators.

Reward Systems that Work



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The Next Step in Gamifying Learning



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How Peer Pressure Affects Learning



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Wowzers Now Available for Parents to Purchase


For the first time ever, Wowzers is now available for parents to purchase for use at home!

Why Wowzers?

Wowzers Online Math is based on brain-based research and is designed to meet the needs of all learners. Children are able to fill in gaps in their learning or challenge themselves with more difficult concepts. With a varied, adaptive approach that includes lessons, games, quests, and assessments, Wowzers covers every math standard that your child needs to know from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

What’s included?

Whether you want to use Wowzers for homeschooling, as a summer program to prevent the summer slide, as intervention for a child who struggles with math, for a gifted and talented child who need a challenge, or as a supplement to an in-school program, a subscription includes a full year of digital content for each grade level. The program is highly flexible and it’s possible to move children down a grade if the curriculum is too difficult, or up a grade for more challenging content.

How do children and parents access the content?

Parents create an account, then generate a login for each child they want to access Wowzers. Children automatically begin at the start of the grade level assigned to them and progress naturally through the curriculum, but can choose to skip to other math content within their grade level if desired. We will be rolling out more reporting tools for parents to keep tabs on their child’s progress soon!

What is the cost?

Apply today for a 7-day free trial. If you like what you see, we offer two subscription plans:

  • Monthly plan: $14.99/child
  • Yearly plan: $149.99/child (17% savings)


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