This Tip discusses Bloom’s Affective Domain, its five learning levels, possible verbs for each level, and example learning objectives.
“Attitudes are more important than facts.” Karl A. Menninger
For years, I have designed learning objectives by using a three step process: (1) identify the key content using a template for either skill-building or attitude-changing training; (2) determine the desired level of learning; and (3) add an active verb. The levels of learning and the active verbs have both been based in Bloom’s Cognitive Domain.
Bloom’s Affective Domain
However, in designing a training program devoted to the design and delivery of attitude-changing training, I finally became acquainted with Benjamin Bloom’s Affective Domain.
Five Learning Levels
The Affective Domain consists of five learning levels:
1. Receive: Listen, take an interest in, and passively participate
2. Respond: React, question and probe ideas, and actively participate
3. Value: Decide the worth and relevance of ideas, accept or commit to a particular stance or action
4. Organize: Reconcile internal conflicts, integrate a new value
5. Internalize: Act consistently with the new value
These are the learning levels that should be achieved by the learning objectives in attitude-changing training.
Verbs for Each Learning Level
There are certain active verbs that can be used to indicate each of these learning levels:
|
RECEIVE |
RESPOND |
VALUE |
ORGANIZE |
INTERNALIZE |
| acknowledge | aid | accept | adhere | act |
| ask | answer | argue | alter | apply |
| attend | assist | challenge | arrange | arrive |
| develop | cite | confront | build | change |
| identify | clarify | criticize | choose | characterize |
| listen | complete | debate | codify | influence |
| locate | comply | defend | combine | internalize |
| name | conform | demonstrate | compare | perform |
| observe | contribute | differentiate | contrast | plan |
| realize | cooperate | enable | crystalize | practice |
| recognize | describe | explain | discriminate | propose |
| discuss | follow | display | qualify | |
| do | grow | elaborate | ready | |
| engage | initiate | formulate | relay | |
| examine | invite | generalize | revise | |
| exhibit | join | integrate | serve | |
| help | justify | judge | solve | |
| interpret | persuade | modify | view | |
| participate | prefer | prepare | verify | |
| perform | pursue | prioritize | ||
| present | refute | order | ||
| question | seek | organize | ||
| react | select | reconcile | ||
| read | study | regulate | ||
| reply | work | relate | ||
| report | systematize | |||
| respond | synthesize | |||
| review | transform | |||
| select | weigh | |||
| tell | ||||
| volunteer | ||||
| write |
Example Learning Objectives
Using Bloom’s Affective Domain, the learning objectives for an attitude-changing training might look like this:
| Title: | Cultural Awareness | |||
| Learning Goals:
The participants will recognize the importance of being aware of cultural differences [what] to ensure effective customer service [why]. |
||||
| Learning Objectives: | During this session, the participants will: | |||
| Learner Action | Learning Level: | |||
| 1 | [present] what it means to be culturally aware
[active verb] What it is (definitions of terminology or standards) |
Respond |
||
| 2. | [examine] how it affects the participants or those they care about [active verb] Why care about it
(benefits or consequences of the content from the learners’ perspective) |
Respond |
||
| 3. | [justify] federal and state law, company rules
[active verb] Why it is important (moral, ethical, legal or conceptual requirements or guidelines) |
Value |
||
| 4. | [elaborate on] examples of cultural differences
[active verb] How to recognize or accomplish it (examples) |
Organize |
||
| 5. | [plan] what to do in different situations that require cultural awareness
[active verb] What to do in different situations |
Internalize |
||
In next week’s Tip, we’ll look at the learning activities that might be appropriate for each of these five affective learning levels.
May your learning be sweet.
Deborah
