Learning Domains

Cognitive | Affective | Psychomotor

Learning is not an event. It is a process. It is the continual growth and

change in the brain's architecture that results from the many ways we take
in information, process it, connect it, catalogue it, and use it (and
sometimes get rid of it).

Learning can generally be categorized into three domains: cognitive,

affective, and psychomotor. Within each domain are multiple levels of
learning that progress from more basic, surface-level learning to more
complex, deeper-level learning. The level of learning we strive to impact will
vary across learning experiences depending on 1) the nature of the
experience, 2) the developmental levels of the participating students, and 3)
the duration and intensity of the experience.

When writing learning objectives, it is important to think about which

domain(s) is relevant to the learning experience you are designing. The
tables below provide further information about each domain.

The COGNITIVE Domain

The cognitive domain deals with how we acquire, process, and use knowledge. It is the "thinking"
domain. The table below outlines the six levels in this domain and verbs that can be used to write
learning objectives.

Cognitive Domain Levels

-------------------Increasing Complexity------------------->
Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create
Retrieve Construct Carry out or Break Make Put
relevant meaning use a material judgments elements
knowledge from procedure into its based on together to
from long- instructional in a given constituent criteria and form a
term messages, situation parts and standards coherent or
memory including determine functional
oral, how the whole;
written, and parts relate reorganize
graphic to one elements
communicat another and into a new
ion to an overall pattern or
structure or structure
purpose
 Arrange Abstract Apply Analyze Argue Assemble
Cite Associate Carry out Attribute Assess Build
Choose Categorize Demonstrat Deconstruct Check Combine
Count Clarify e Differentiat Conclude Compose
Define Classify Determine e Coordinate Construct
Describe Compare Develop Discriminat Criticize Create
Duplicate Conclude Employ e Critique Design
Identify Contrast Execute Distinguish Detect Draft
Label Exemplify Implement Focus Evaluate Formulate
List Explain Operate Organize Judge Generate
Locate Extrapolate Show Outline Justify Hypothesize
Match Generalize Sketch Parse Monitor Integrate
Name Illustrate Solve Select Prioritize Plan
Outline Infer Use Structure Rank Produce
Recall Interpret Rate
Recite Map Recommend
Recognize Match Test
Record Paraphrase
Repeat Predict
Restate Represent
Review Summarize
Select Translate
State

The AFFECTIVE Domain

The affective domain deals with our attitudes, values, and emotions. It is the "valuing" domain. The
table below outlines the five levels in this domain and verbs that can be used to write learning
objectives.

Affective Domain Levels

-------------------Increasing Complexity------------------->
Characterizatio
Receiving Responding Valuing Organization
n
Openness to Active Attaching Incorporating Full
new participation value or worth new integration/
information or in, interaction to new information or internalization
experiences with, or information or experiences resulting in
response to experiences into existing new and
new value system consistent
information or attitudes,
experiences beliefs, and/or
behaviors
Ask Answer Complete Adhere Act
Choose Assist Demonstrate Alter Discriminate
 Describe Aid Differentiate Arrange Display
Follow Compile Explain Combine Influence
Give Conform Follow Compare Listen
Hold Discuss Form Complete Modify
Identify Greet Initiate Defend Perform
Locate Help Join Formulate Practice
Name Label Justify Generalize Propose
Select Perform Propose Identify Qualify
Reply Practice Read Integrate Question
Use Present Share Modify Revise
Read Study Order Serve
Recite Work Organize Solve
Report Prepare Verify
Select Relate Use
Tell Synthesize
Write

The PSYCHOMOTOR Domain

The psychomotor domain deals with manual or physical skills. It is the "doing" domain. The table
below outlines the five levels in this domain and verbs that can be used to write learning
objectives.

Psychomotor Domain Levels

-------------------Increasing Complexity------------------->
Imitation Manipulation Precision Articulation Naturalization
Observing and Reproducing Accurately Integrating Naturally and
copying action/skill executing multiple automatically
another's through action/skill on actions/skills performing
action/skill instruction own and actions/skills
performing at high level
consistently
Adhere Build Calibrate Adapt Design
Copy Execute Complete Combine Invent
Follow Implement Control Construct Manage
Repeat Perform Demonstrate Coordinate Project
Replicate Recreate Perfect Develop Specify
Show Formulate
Integrate
Master
Modify
Anderson, L.W., & Krathwohl, D.R. (eds.). (2001). A taxonomy for learning,
teaching and assessing: A revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of educational
objectives. New York: Longman.
Dave, R.H. (1975). Developing and writing behavioral objectives. (R J
Armstrong, ed.) Educational Innovators Press.

Krathwohl, D.R., Bloom, B.S., & Masia, B.B. (1964). Taxonomy of educational
objectives: The classification of educational goals. Handbook II: Affective
domain. New York: David McKay Co.