Three Learning Domains
Bloom et al. are well known for dividing categories
of learning into the cognitive, affective, and
psychomotor domains. The cognitive domain
involves the learning and application of
knowledge. The affective domain addresses the
acquisition of attitudes and values, and the
psychomotor domain involves development of the
body and skills it performs.
Domain Taxonomies
A taxonomy classifies information into a hierarchy
of levels. Domain taxonomies reveal that what
educators want students to accomplish (expressed
by educational objectives) can be arranged into
levels of complexity, and that those levels are best
fulfilled sequentially.
Example: The food guide pyramid
is a taxonomy of levels based on
number of servings, or relative
contribution of a particular food
group to total food intake.
www.ncagr.com/agscool/
nutrition/pyramid.htm
Cognitive Domain
The cognitive domain involves the learning and
application of knowledge. The taxonomy contains
six levels that can be remembered by the following
mnemonic device:
www.chorley.gov.uk/.../ 1/BinThinking-logo.jpg
Knowledge
Comprehension
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
B. Bloom, ed., Taxonomy of educational objectives, handbook I:
Cognitive domain. New York: McKay, 1956.
Kickball
Can
Almost
Always
Seem
Enjoyable
Cognitive Domain Levels
Level
Description
Knowledge
To recall or recognize information
in some pre-arranged form.
Verbs
Objective
Define
List
Define levels of
cognitive domain.
Comprehen- To understand meaning of
sion
information based on prior
learning.
Describe
Explain
Interpret
Explain purpose of
cognitive domain.
Application
To utilize information to complete
a task with limited direction.
Compute
Solve
Use
Write objective for
levels of cognitive
domain.
Analysis
To classify and relate assumptions
or evidence.
Contrast
Examine
Compare cognitive &
affective domains.
Synthesis
To integrate or combine ideas into
a new product or plan.
Design
Develop
Organize
Design way to write
objectives that
combines 3 domains.
Evaluation
Critique idea based on specific
standards and criteria.
Appraise
Judge
Justify
Judge effectiveness of
writing objectives
using taxonomy.
Cognitive Domain Levels
Research over the last 40 years has confirmed the taxonomy as a
hierarchy, with the exception of the last two levels. It is uncertain
whether synthesis and evaluation should be reversed, or whether
synthesis and evaluation are at the same level of difficulty, but use
different cognitive processes.
Creative Thinking
Critical Thinking
Synthesis
Evaluation
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
Affective Domain
The affective domain addresses the acquisition of
attitudes and values. The taxonomy contains five
levels that can be remembered by the following
mnemonic device:
www.rhinocerospie.com/.../
archive-072004.html
Receiving
Responding
Valuing
Organization
Characterization
Krathwohl, D., et al. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives, handbook II:
Affective domain. New York: McKay.
Regular
Rude
Vices
Offend
Christ
Affective Domain Levels
Level
Description
Verbs
Objective
Receiving
Being aware of, or attending to
something in the environment.
Listen
Notice
Tolerate
Listen attentively to
badminton
introduction.
Responding
Showing some new behavior as
a result of experience.
Comply
Enjoy
Follow
Voluntarily help set
up badminton nets.
Valuing
Showing some definite
involvement or commitment.
Carry out
Express
Attend optional
badminton match.
Organization
Integrating a new value into
one's general set of values
relative to other priorities.
Choose
Consider
Prefer
Purchase own
badminton racket.
Characterization
Acting consistently with the
new value; person is known by
the value.
Act on
Depict
Exemplify
Join intramurals to
play badminton twice
per week.
Psychomotor Domain
The psychomotor domain involves development of
the body and skills it performs. The taxonomy
contains seven levels that can be remembered by
the following mnemonic device:
www.campdiscovery.com/
Specialist-04/Tennis-01.jpg
Perceiving
Patterning
Accommodating
Refining Varying
Improvising
Composing
Bressan’s adaptations of Jewett et al., “Educational change through a taxonomy
for writing physical education objectives,” Quest 15, 35-36, 1971.
Premium
Pandas
Acquire
Rare
Value
In
China
Psychomotor Domain Levels
Level
Description
Verbs
Objective
Perceiving
Recognizing movement
position or pattern.
Listen
Observe
Discover headstand
movement principles.
Patterning
Reproducing movement
position or pattern.
Imitate
Practice
Perform headstand
following modeling.
Accommodating
Using or modifying
Adjust
movement position or pattern. Modify
Use headstand in
routine.
Refining
Demonstrating efficient
control in performing pattern.
Perform headstand
with pointed toes.
Varying
Performing movement pattern Design
in different ways.
Develop
Perform headstand in
three positions.
Improvising
Originating novel movement
or movement combinations.
Construct
Invent
Combine headstand
with new skill.
Composing
Creating unique movement
pattern.
Create
Invent
Create floor exercise
routine.
Improve
Master