Teaching in the Three Domains of Learning: The Taxonomies Simplified for Educational Objectives, Activities and Outcomes

Learning is often classified into three areas or domains: mental or Cognitive, emotional or Affective, and physical or Psychomotor. Outstanding teachers have always sought to make their lessons more than mere recalling and understanding facts in the Cognitive domain. In the past fifty years many of them have turned to classification systems such as Bloom’s Taxonomy to assist them in helping students develop higher order thinking skills. On further reflection, many teachers came to the realization that teaching in the Affective and Psychomotor domains also involves classification or a hierarchy of levels. This book is the only comprehensive guide available to teachers and curriculum specialists that classifies human learning and behavior in all three domains. It also identifies analogous relationships at each level between the domains, breaks down common teaching practices into levels, and provides examples and exercises at many levels in all three domains.

Dr. Walter D. Pierce is a professor emeritus from Illinois State University where he taught undergraduate and graduate classes in Teaching Methods, Curriculum Theory, Educational Research and Supervision of Instruction. He has co-authored or authored four education textbooks and over thirty articles and papers published in professional journals or presented at education conferences. During his twenty-three year tenure at Illinois State University he was twice named Teacher of the Year in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and one year honored as Teacher of the Year in the College of Education. He now resides in Florida using the email address waltpierce@aol.com. Dr. Charles E. Gray is a professor of history education emeritus from Illinois State University. He is a specialist in history/social science education and value analysis, with publications in both history and education. During his 27 years on the Illinois State faculty he taught courses on the undergraduate and graduate levels; this included courses in history and in history/social science teaching methodology. Most of his writing and research has been focused on teaching strategies designed to help students develop thinking skills, including those skills useful in the analysis of value issues. His publications include a research study monograph, many articles in professional journals as well as papers at education conventions. Prior to his tenure at Illinois State University he served as department chairman in two large high schools. He now resides in Missouri using the email address graysfolly@mchsi.com.