Learning is everywhere. We can learn mental skills, develop our attitudes and acquire new physical skills as we perform the activities of our daily living. These domains of learning can be categorized as cognitive domain (knowledge), psychomotor domain (skills) and affective domain (attitudes). This categorization is best explained by the Taxonomy of Learning Domains formulated by a group of researchers led by Benjamin Bloom in 1956.
The cognitive domain involves the development of our mental skills and the acquisition of knowledge. The six categories under this domain are:
Example: A child recites the English alphabet.
Example: A teacher explains a theory in his own words.
Example: A nurse intern applies what she learned in her Psychology class when she talks to patients.
Example: A lawyer was able to win over a case after recognizing logical fallacies in the reasoning of the offender.
Examples: A therapist combines yoga, biofeedback and support group therapy in creating a care plan for his patient.
Examples: A businessman selects the most efficient way of selling products.
The affective domain involves our feelings, emotions and attitudes. This domain is categorized into 5 subdomains, which include:
Example: Listening attentively to a friend.
Example: Participating in a group discussion.
Example: An activist shares his ideas on the increase in salary of laborers.
Example: A teenager spends more time in her studies than with her boyfriend.
Example: A man marries a woman not for her looks but for what she is.
The psychomotor domain is comprised of utilizing motor skills and coordinating them. The seven categories under this include:
Example: A cook adjusts the heat of stove to achieve the right temperature of the dish.
Example: An obese person displays motivation in performing planned exercise.
Example: A person follows the manual in operating a machine.
Example: A mother was able to cook a delicious meal after practicing how to cook it.
Example: Typing a report on a computer without looking at the keyboard.
Example: A designer uses plastic bottles to create a dress.
Example: A choreographer creates a new dance routine.
Oskar Blakstad (Apr 18, 2011). Domains Of Learning. Retrieved Sep 30, 2023 from Assisted Self-Help: https://staging.explorable.com/en/domains-of-learning