De Leon, Lovella M.

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

Bloom’s taxonomy is a set of three hierarchical models used to classify educational learning
objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. The models organize learning objectives into
three different domains: Cognitive, Affective, and Sensory/Psychomotor.
Bloom’s taxonomy was developed to promote higher forms of thinking in education, such as
analyzing and evaluating concepts, processes, procedures, and principles, rather than simply
memorizing facts. It is a framework for educational achievement in which each level depends on
the one below, often drawn as a pyramid. The model is used in instructional design primarily for
creating effective learning objectives.
The models were named after Benjamin Bloom, who chaired the committee of educators at the
University of Chicago that devised the taxonomy. He also edited the first volume of the standard
text, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals, first
published in 1956.
L&D leaders still rely on and derive huge benefits from Bloom’s taxonomy when designing
training experiences for their learners. Of course, there’s a lot that goes into effective training
design. Check out this on-demand webinar recording to hear instructional design expert, Bill
Milstid, share his five essential strategies for effective course design.
The first of the three domains, the Cognitive Model, serves as the predominant focus of the
model and includes six levels of objectives, starting with knowledge—indeed, the very first stage
of learning—which leads to the development of the skills and abilities that are crucial to
completing the process: comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
While there are subcategories within each, each stage lies on a continuum. The belief is that
learners move up through each level of the pyramid in Bloom’s taxonomy, starting from very
basic learning, to acquire deeper knowledge on a subject, with each level crucial to the
development of the next.
Though revised each year for 16 years after it was first published, Bloom’s taxonomy was
revamped significantly in 2001. More dynamic language replaced the original, static, one-
dimensional levels of educational objectives, providing learners with clearer objectives for what
is expected of them.
Original Bloom’s Taxonomy from 1956 Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy in 2001
Knowledge Remember
Comprehension Understand
Application Apply
Analysis Analyze
Synthesis Evaluate
Evaluation Create
Bloom’s taxonomy framework is still valid across all learning environments because it enables
the creation of achievable goals that instructors/course developers and learners can both
understand and then build a definitive plan to meet them.
Learning objectives can be viewed in behavioral terms. As instructional designers collaborate
with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop courses, they can see what students are capable of
as a direct result of the instruction they have received at each level.

Using the categorization, courses can be designed with appropriate content and instruction to
lead learners up the pyramid of learning. Instructional designers can also design valid assessment
tools (i.e., quizzes) to ensure each category is met and in turn, that each part of the course
material is in line with the level’s objectives. However, oftentimes, especially in a corporate
setting, several of the stages are interconnected and blend into each other.
Learners may not be aware of Bloom’s taxonomy, but to them, it serves to bridge the gap
between what they know now, and what they need to learn in order to attain a higher level of
knowledge—and perform better at their jobs.
The purpose of applying Bloom’s taxonomy is to create measurable goals—perfect for corporate
learning and development. If applied successfully, the learner has acquired a new skill or level of
domain expertise and instructional designers are able to effectively assess this learning on an
ongoing basis as the course moves through each stage of the framework.

REFERENCE
Wengroff, Jake (2019). What is Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Synapse https://getsynapse.com/blog/what-is-blooms-taxonomy/