Spilling the TEA: Dr. Lisa Clark expands on her work with Bloom’s Taxonomy and AI
Backing up success is never easy. Movie sequels are never quite as good as the original; “second album syndrome” continues to be a challenge for aspiring musicians; sophomore athletes struggle to recapture the brilliance of their rookie season.
Spare a thought for Dr Lisa Clark, then, whose landmark report, Reframing Bloom’s for the Age of AI: A White Paper for Future-Ready Educators, is a seriously tough act to follow. Released last year in August, this paper outlines a reframed evolution of Bloom’s Taxonomy for the AI era, informed by Dr Clark’s extensive conversations with global institutional leaders and faculty in her role as Blackboard’s AVP for Academic Transformation. It balances the pedagogical with the practical to provide effective strategies that all institutions can leverage and has been a hit at a range of global industry events and Blackboard user groups as a result.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Dr Clark returns this summer with her second paper in the series, “From Creation to Transformation: Evidence of Learning in the AI Era”. It builds off the initial research, which argued for a “transform” layer to be added to Bloom’s Taxonomy, as learning in the AI-era places increased emphasis on exercising judgment, making contextual decisions, engaging ethical reasoning, and adapting thinking through the learning process.
As a preview, this new paper presents the Transform Evidence Arc (or the TEA, for those fond of memorable acronyms). The prevalence of generative AI dictates that learning can no longer be assessed solely by the final artifact a student produces; rather, what is required is an ongoing assessment approach that encapsulates the ‘transformative’ skills described above. The TEA does exactly this: it maps out a series of steps which make learning visible over time, complemented by “Human Validation Checkpoints” which require students to demonstrate genuine understanding throughout.
As always, Dr Clark’s work here combines robust pedagogical research with the extensive first-hand experience that has seen her named among the Top 50 Voices to Follow in Higher Education. Readers of “From Creation to Transformation: Evidence of Learning in the AI Era”, which is scheduled for release in late July, will enjoy a thorough breakdown of the theory behind the TEA, the assessment context which necessitates it, and actionable ways that it can be applied straight away in real courses for real students.
Of course, dialogue will always be paramount to Dr Clark approach, as it is for all of us here at Blackboard. She’ll be on hand at Building Blackboard Together in Dallas and would be delighted to discuss her work around AI and authentic assessment over a coffee (or, you guessed it, a TEA!). Rumors that she’ll also be making a cameo on the piano cannot currently be confirmed or denied.
Want to get your hands on Lisa Clark’s new paper as soon as possible? Pre-register here and we’ll have it in your inbox on the day of release
FAQ
What is Bloom's Taxonomy?
Bloom’s Taxonomy is hierarchical model used to classify learning objectives. It provides six levels of cognitive complexity, ranging from the simplest, “remember”, up to the most complex, “create”. It has been a staple of learning and assessment design in higher education for decades.
It has also been central to recent development of the Blackboard LMS, to combine educational technology with pedagogical best practices. It is incorporated into Outcomes for Blackboard and authentic assessment generation in the AI Design Assistant.
How is Bloom's Taxonomy changing because of AI?
Generative AI is changing teaching and learning in higher education in several ways, with assessment strategies one of the most important areas.
In her landmark 2025 paper, Reframing Bloom’s for the Age of AI: A White Paper for Future-Ready Educators, Blackboard’s own Dr Lisa Clark proposed that AI requires an seventh level to be added to Bloom’s Taxonomy — “transform.” This places increased emphasis on contextualizing information, using judgement, and adapting thinking over time, requiring students to balance both human and artificial intelligence to get to an effective response.
What is the Transform Evidence Arc (TEA)?
The Transform Evidence Arc (TEA) is a new model of understanding evidence of learning. It was developed by Dr Lisa Clark, off the back of her previous paper on evolving Bloom’s Taxonomy for the AI era.
It outlines a series of actionable steps to measure learning over time, with institutions can apply immediately to refine their instructional design and assessment strategies. A detailed white paper explaining the TEA will be available in late July — use the form above to pre-register to receive it on the day of release.
Why is authentic assessment important in the AI era?
The prevalence of generative AI demands a revision of assessment approaches. Embracing authentic tasks is an important part of this, as they place the focus on individual student outputs that are less susceptible to AI plagiarism.
Based on insights from our ‘Future of Assessment Working Group’, Blackboard has published two white papers outlining effective assessment strategies — and the important role for authentic assessments therein. These are available now for download, with a third paper to follow soon.
- The Future of Assessment: A Blueprint for Learner Evaluation in an AI World
- Reframing the Future of Assessment: Evidence, Practice, and Credibility
How can educators measure evidence of learning?
The Transform Evidence Arc (TEA), designed by Blackboard’s own Dr Lisa Clark, provides an updated approach to measure evidence of learning. Faculty can leverage Clark’s work to devise courses that embrace AI and mirror the skills that students will require in the workforce, all while protecting academic integrity and ensuring crucial learning outcomes are attained.
What is human validation in student assessment?
While there is clear value in incorporating AI into modern learning and assessment tasks, it’s essential that this doesn’t come at the expense of student understanding. The TEA approach proposed by Dr. Lisa Clark includes “Human Validation Checkpoints”, where instructors can ensure student understanding and encourage critical thinking.
Where can I download Dr. Lisa Clark’s latest paper?
This will be available in late July – use the form above on this page to pre-register to receive a copy on the day of release.
This is the second paper in her series on this area. You can download the first here.
