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Taxonomies of affective objectives and psychomotor objectives

26 July, 2019 - 10:10
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Although taxonomies related to affect, or the feelings and emotions of students, are used less commonly than cognitive taxonomies for planning instruction, various educators have constructed them. One of the most widely known was also published by colleagues of Benjamin Bloom and classifies affect according to how committed a student feels toward what he is learning (Krathwohl, Bloom, & Masia, 1964/1999). Table 10.9 summarizes the categories and gives brief examples. The lowest level, called receiving, simply involves willingness to experience new knowledge or activities. Higher levels involve embracing or adopting experiences in ways that are increasingly organized and that represent increasingly stable forms of commitment.

Table 10.9 Taxonomies of objectives: affective domain and psychomotor domain

Affective domain

Psychomotor domain

Receiving

Willingness to attend to particular experience

Imitation

Repeating a simple action that has been demonstrated

Responding

Willingness to participate actively in an experience

Manipulation

Practice of an action that has been imitated but only learned partially

Valuing

Perception of experience as worthwhile

Precision

Quick, smooth execution of an action that has been practiced

Organization

Coordination of valued experiences into partially coherent wholes

Articulation

Execution of an action not only with precision, but also with modifications appropriate to new circumstances

Characterization by a value complex

Coordination of valued experiences and of  organized sets of experiences into a single comprehensive value hierarchy

Naturalization

Incorporation of an action into the motor repertoire, along with experimentation with new motor actions

 

Taxonomies related to abilities and skills that are physical, or psychomotor, have also been used less widely than affective taxonomies, with the notable exception of one area of teaching where they are obviously relevant: physical education. As you might expect, taxonomic categories of motor skills extend from simple, brief actions to complex, extended action sequences that combine simpler, previously learned skills smoothly and automatically (Harrow, 1972; Simpson, 1972). One such classification scheme is shown in Table 10.9. An example of a very basic psychomotor skill might be imitating the action of throwing a ball when modeled by someone else; an example of the latter might be performing a 10 minute gymnastics routine which the student has devised for himself or herself. Note, though, that many examples of psychomotor skills also exist outside the realm of physical education. In a science course, for example, a student might need to learn to operate laboratory equipment that requires using delicate, fine movements. In art classes, students might learn to draw, and in music they might learn to play an instrument (both are partly motor skills). Most first graders are challenged by the motor skills of learning to write. For students with certain physical disabilities, furthermore, motor skill development is an important priority for the student's entire education.