Bloom's Domains of Learning

Benjamin Bloom describes three domains of learning (cognitive; affective; psychomotor) each of which encompass different learning features, which increased in complexity. A well-designed curriculum, learning material and teacher deliver will consider how the different domains and features can be applied to provide a well-balanced approach to learning for students from a range of backgrounds and abilities. The details of the three domains are:

Cognitive (Knowledge-based: knowing what. 6 levels: original v newer interpretations, with the last two levels changing order):
• Knowledge (Remember).
• Comprehension (Understand).
• Application (Apply).
• Analysis (Analyse).
• Synthesis (Create = now level 6).
• Evaluation (Evaluate = now level 5).

Affective (Emotional / Behavioural - based, with 5 levels)
• Receiving.
• Responding.
• Valuing.
• Organizing.
• Characterising (Internalising values).

Psychomotor (Action / Skills based: knowing how. 5, 6 or 7 levels (Simpson, 1972) depending on author/s)
• Perception.
• Set.
• Guided response.
• Mechanism.
• Complex overt response.
• Adaptation.
• Origination.