Using Bloom’s Taxonomy in Writing Course Objectives

In 1956, Benjamin S. Bloom headed a group of educational psychologists. Together, they developed a classification of levels of learning behaviors. This became a taxonomy which covers three overlapping domains: cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. This taxonomy provides a useful structure in which to ask questions and identify learning outcomes. The following are verb examples that represent the three domains:

Cognitive Learning:

  

Knowledge -- involves recalling or remembering facts without necessarily understanding them.

arrange, define, duplicate, label list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate, recall, reproduce, list, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote

 

Comprehension -- involves understanding learned information.

classify, describe, discuss, explain, express, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish, estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend, translate, review, restate, locate, recognize, report

 

Application – is the ability to put ideas and concepts to work in solving problems.

apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use, calculate, complete, show, examine, modify, relate, change, experiment, discover

 

Analysis – involves breaking information into its components to see interrelationships and ideas.

analyze, appraise, calculate, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test, separate, order, connect, classify, arrange, divide, infer

 

Synthesis – is the ability to use creativity to compose and design something original.

arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up, rewrite, integrate, create, design, generalize

 

Evaluation – involves judging the value of information based on established criteria.

appraise, argue, assess, attach, defend, judge, predict, rate, support, evaluate, recommend, convince, judge, conclude, compare, summarize

     

Psychomotor Learning

Bend, grasp, handle, operate, reach, relax, shorten, stretch, differentiate (by touch), express (facially), perform (skillfully)

     

Affective Learning

accept, attempt, challenge, defend, dispute, join, judge, praise, question, share, support