The three learning domains involve cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills. The cognitive domain deals with knowledge and its application, arranged into a taxonomy from basic knowledge to higher-order thinking. The affective domain addresses attitudes and values through levels from awareness to internalization. The psychomotor domain progresses motor skills from perception to skilled movements through practice and refinement.

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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/Bin-
Thinking-logo.jpg
Knowledge Kickball
Comprehension Can
Application Almost
Analysis Always
Synthesis Seem
Evaluation Enjoyable
B. Bloom, ed., Taxonomy of educational objectives, handbook I:
Cognitive domain. New York: McKay, 1956.

4. Cognitive Domain Levels
Level Description Verbs Objective
Knowledge To recall or recognize information Define Define levels of
in some pre-arranged form. List cognitive domain.
Comprehen- To understand meaning of Describe Explain purpose of
sion information based on prior Explain cognitive domain.
learning. Interpret
Application To utilize information to complete Compute Write objective for
a task with limited direction. Solve levels of cognitive
Use domain.
Analysis To classify and relate assumptions Contrast Compare cognitive &
or evidence. Examine affective domains.
Synthesis To integrate or combine ideas into Design Design way to write
a new product or plan. Develop objectives that
Organize combines 3 domains.
Evaluation Critique idea based on specific Appraise Judge effectiveness of
standards and criteria. Judge writing objectives
Justify using taxonomy.

5. 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

6. 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 Regular
Responding Rude
Valuing Vices
Organization Offend
Characterization Christ
Krathwohl, D., et al. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives, handbook II:
Affective domain. New York: McKay.

7. Affective Domain Levels
Level Description Verbs Objective
Receiving Being aware of, or attending to Listen Listen attentively to
something in the environment. Notice badminton
Tolerate introduction.
Responding Showing some new behavior as Comply Voluntarily help set
a result of experience. Enjoy up badminton nets.
Follow
Valuing Showing some definite Carry out Attend optional
involvement or commitment. Express badminton match.
Organization Integrating a new value into Choose Purchase own
one's general set of values Consider badminton racket.
relative to other priorities. Prefer
Characterization Acting consistently with the Act on Join intramurals to
new value; person is known by Depict play badminton twice
the value. Exemplify per week.

8. 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 Premium
Patterning Pandas
Accommodating Acquire
Refining Rare
Varying Value
Improvising In
Composing China
Bressan’s adaptations of Jewett et al., “Educational change through a taxonomy
for writing physical education objectives,” Quest 15, 35-36, 1971.

9. Psychomotor Domain Levels
Level Description Verbs Objective
Perceiving Recognizing movement Listen Discover headstand
position or pattern. Observe movement principles.
Patterning Reproducing movement Imitate Perform headstand
position or pattern. Practice following modeling.
Accommodating Using or modifying Adjust Use headstand in
movement position or pattern. Modify routine.
Refining Demonstrating efficient Improve Perform headstand
control in performing pattern. Master with pointed toes.
Varying Performing movement pattern Design Perform headstand in
in different ways. Develop three positions.
Improvising Originating novel movement Construct Combine headstand
or movement combinations. Invent with new skill.
Composing Creating unique movement Create Create floor exercise
pattern. Invent routine.