Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

Ram L. GallardoReporter

Stating ObjectivesBloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

is the most common basis in formulating our learning objectives. It uses a multi-tiered scale to express the level of expertise required to achieve each measurable student outcome. Organizing measurable student outcomes in this way will allow us to select appropriate classroom assessment techniques for the course.

The taxonomy is divided into three domains namely:

1. Cognitive 2. Affective3. Psychomotor

Cognitive Domain

1. Knowledge- the student can recall, define, recognize or identify specific information presented during discussion.

Some verbs we may use:• Name• Identify• State• Select• List• Match• Label• Extend

Cognitive Domain

2. Comprehension- the student demonstrate understanding of information by translating it into a different form or by recognizing it in translated form.

Some verbs we may use:• Compare• Classify• Describe• Give examples• Predict• Modify• Distinguish

Cognitive Domain

3. Application- the student can apply the information in performing concrete actions.

Some verbs we may use:• Demonstrate• Solve• Apply rule• Show• Measure• Compute• Use• Illustrate

Cognitive Domain

4. Analysis- the student can recognize the organization and structure of a body of information, break this information down into its constituents parts, and specify the relationships between these parts.

Some verbs we may use:• Differentiate• Select• Prove• Infer• Define• Analyze• Categorize

Cognitive Domain

5. Synthesis- the student can bring to bear information from various sources to create a product uniquely his or her own.

List of action words:• Summarize• Design• Combine• Draw• Relate• Create• Produce• Devise

Cognitive Domain

6. Evaluation- the student can apply a standard in making a judgment on the worth of something.

List of action words:• Interpret• Explain• Criticize• Justify• Suggest• Support• Conclude• Deduce

Affective Domain

Bloom’s taxonomy divides affective objectives into five categories. They are described as follows:

1. Receiving- the student demonstrates a willingness to participate in the activity.

2. Responding- the student shows interest in the objects, phenomena, or activity by seeking it out or pursuing it for pleasure.

3. Valuing- the student internalizes an appreciation for (values) the objectives, phenomena, or activity.

4. Organization- the student begins to compare different values, and resolves conflicts between them to form an internally consistent system of values.

5. Characterization of value- the student adopts a long-term value system that is "pervasive, consistent, and predictable“.

Affective Domain

Different Levels: Level 1: Simple behavioral objectives

Some verbs we may use:• Find• Gather• Investigate• Make• Do• Use• Recognize• Recall• Examine• Illustrate

Affective Domain

Level 2: Behavior requiring application of more complex mental operation

Some verbs we ay use :• Prove• Analyze• Apply• Construct• Relate• Estimate• State• Suggest• Compare• Contrast• Plot a graph

Affective Domain

Level 3: Behavior showing that student has firm grasp of major concept or shows original thoughts

Some verbs we may use:• Generalize data• Synthesize• Discuss critically• Integrate• Explain• Justify• Discover• Recommend measures• List of reasons for

Psychomotor Domain

There are six categories of ojectives in the psychomotor domain. They are:

1. Reflex movements- the student can occur involuntarily in response to some stimuli.

2. Basic fundamental movements- the student has innate movement pattern formed from a combination of reflex movements.

3. Perceptual abilities- the student can translate stimulus received through the senses into appropriate desired movement.

4. Physical abilities- the student has developed basic movements that are essetial to the development of more highly skilled movements.

5. Skilled movements- the student has developed more complex movements requiring a certain degree of efficiency.

6. Nondiscursive communications- student has the ability to communicate through body movement.

Summary

The taxonomy of educational objetives is divided into three domains namely:

1. Cognitive - knowledge-based objectives2. Affective - affective-based objectives (values,

interests and attitudes)3. Psychomotor - skills-based objectives