Unlike cognitive domain, affective domain of bloom’s taxonomy focuses on emotions, attitude, and values. In the previous article, we learnt that the objective of cognitive domain is to develop logic and critical thinking. In this article, I’m going to explain how affective domain is instrumental in cultivating motivation, personal feelings and beliefs.
Purpose of affective domain
For layman’s understanding, affective domain is all about how we deal with things emotionally: how we respond, value, appreciate, etc. In this domain as well bloom has given five levels of objectives that begin with simpler receiving to complex level of characterization. Both domains are necessary components of holistic education.
In the affective domain of Bloom’s taxonomy, there are five objectives are prescribed by the committee of educational scientists to cultivate, shape, and improve personality of learners. These are: receiving, responding, valuing, organization, and characterization. Let’s see one by one in more detailed way.
Understanding affective domain of bloom’s Taxonomy
Receiving: being aware of Surrounding It is placed at the base level of affective domain. It means person in question is aware of whatever happening around him. He pays selective attention. Here, respond is absent. Like, student attends and listens lecture, person watch move, or join seminar etc.
The objective of this level is to make student aware of things and helps to remember key details. This is prerequisite conditions before responding. Important key verbs are: chooses, describes, follows, gives, holds, identifies, locates, names, points to, selects, sits, uses.etc.
2. Responding to phenomenon
Unlike receiving, it moves from willingness to listen to willingness to respond. It involves active participation in the debate, discussion, presentation etc.
Answers, assists, aids, complies, greets, helps, labels, performs, practices, presents, reads, recites, reports, selects, tells, writes are important verbs in the second level or objective.
Learner can actively speak in front of class; can answer queries and questions of his fellow students; and improve his stage courage. Eventually, learner feels motivated and builds positive attitude.
3. Valuing — you like or dislike things you aware about
Once the learner moves from receiving and responding, you are fully aware about the phenomenon or activity, you try to either appreciate or oppose object or activity on the ground of your believing or prior knowledge. Simply, it is a like affinity or dislike to a thing or phenomenon you know better.
Examples of valuing
Suppose, you experienced an incidents of ragging in campus when you were fresher. And, next time, you are witnessing same incidents happening with someone else. In this situation what would you do? Definitely, you will participate in the demonstration opposing ragging and will demand stern punishment.
Here, you are infavour of respecting dignity of freshers. And, at the same time, you are a critic of ragging. This is how you develop your value system over a period of time. But, one thing you must not forget that values are much more than mere beliefs.
However, you can not be so committed to eveything you think to be preserved or protected. You can’t be so committed in case of climate change and other national issues.
What I want to assert is that the degree of your believing on the basis of your value system may differ.
Appreciate, justify, demonstrate, cherish, propose respect are some related keywords for valuing.
4. Organization — it involves formation of value system
Environment Vs development, freedom Vs cultural identities are certain face-offs you need to resolve before you construct final value system. It is upon you to decide which value you want to uphold to show your support and commitment in the course of life.
Prioritisation is the precondition to form character or image. You need to prioritize time to meet the demand of self, family and business. Such character or image you formed become the easy Identity among people around you.
Compare, contrast, relate, harmonize, synthesis are alike keywords for organization.
5. Characterization — making value system part of your personality.
Now, you have a concrete ground to take decisions; you can power your commitment; influence people by your content instead appearance. It involves refining own value system in the light of newer facts.
In this final level, you have a value system that controls your behavior. It is consistent, predictable, and most importantly, characteristic of the learner.
Display teamwork, revise judgement when it needs, value people when they deserve are some examples of characterization.
Influences, performs, practices, proposes, qualifies, questions, revises, serves, solves,etc are example of key verbs.
Last words on affective domain of bloom’s taxonomy,
After carefully studying the each level of affective domain, it is easier to conclude that bloom’s affective domain is useful in the transformation of attitude, refine behavior, character and personality as whole. By learning this, one can effectively build his identity, teamwork, and harmonious lifestyle. In short, without attitudinal transportation, emotional intelligence, sound character, and nobel behavior, one cannot achieve self respect in society. Cognitive domain of bloom’s taxonomy
https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/blooms-taxonomy