11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

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BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: MASTER YOUR LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 March 15, 2022 L&D, Learning Theory

Bloom’s Taxonomy is a concept you will

come across pretty quickly once you start
exploring the world of learning. Although
you typically see it in the context of
teaching children, it can be extremely
beneficial at all learning levels.

This pedagogical framework can help you to

meet the needs of your learners. In fact,
Bloom’s Taxonomy has the power to help
change behaviour and get better results from your training programme. 

This is true even in an adult learning environment. After all, our brains are wired to learn
incrementally.

We layer concept upon concept as the subject matter grows in complexity. And that’s the
key to creating the appropriate learning building blocks that help us reach top levels of
understanding.

But how does Bloom’s Taxonomy help in creating better learning experiences? Let’s have a
look!

What Is Bloom’s Taxonomy?

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

Bloom’s Taxonomy is a pedagogical approach that helps you to measure the cognitive
development of learners. Its hierarchical structure helps to track your learners’ depth of
understanding, and ultimately determine if your training programme is working as
intended.

The framework was named after Benjamin Bloom, an American educational psychologist.
Together with Max Englehart, Edward Furst, Walter Hill and David Krathwohl, Bloom
devised the model back in 1956.

In essence, Bloom’s Taxonomy classifies six levels of cognitive functioning. These levels
provide a sense of structure for the various mental processes we go through while
mastering a new topic or concept.

Subsequently, the model helps you to categorise your learning objectives into varying
levels of complexity. After all, Bloom based the model on the notion that students learn
better if they receive individualised education plans. Setting your learning goals according
to your learners’ cognitive skill levels helps to meet that need.

What is Bloom’s Taxonomy and Why is it Importa…

Importa…

The Revised Taxonomy (2001)

Bloom’s Taxonomy has been applied to education for decades, and it has developed over
the years to include different domains. Similarly, it has gone through some key updates.
Today, we are going to focus on the latest (and now most common) version, often referred
to as ‘The Revised Taxonomy’.

Psychologists David Krathwohl and Lorin Anderson modified the original cognitive model
in 2001. They published it with the title ‘A Taxonomy for Teaching, Learning, and
Assessment: A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives‘. The new version
places greater focus on a more dynamic approach to education.

Krathwol and Anderson realised that educational objectives should not be shoehorned
into fixed, unchanging spaces. Instead, the revised framework reflects a more active
model of learning.

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

The original model outlined six main categories, described with nouns:

1. Knowledge
2. Comprehension
3. Application
4. Analysis
5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation

The updated framework, however, replaces these nouns with verbs to take into account
that learning is an active process. 

As you can see below, the newer framework also assigns greater importance to creating.
It’s the top level learners can achieve according to the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy.

The Six Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy

As we have explored, Bloom’s Taxonomy includes six levels. Just like in the 1956
taxonomy, the revised framework categorises the cognitive domain of learning into
varying levels according to complexity and richness. 

Each level comes with a series of verbs that describe the actions learners should be able
to complete at that stage. In the original model, these verbs were nouns instead. Once
they have mastered these verbs, they move up to the next level. As a result, the
complexity level increases as they move up.

The basis for Bloom’s Taxonomy was a simple hypothesis. If you cannot remember a
concept, you do not understand it. And if you do not understand the subject matter, you
cannot apply it. Therefore, true expertise is impossible without first establishing
foundations of remembering and understanding.

With that in mind, the framework is arranged into a continuum of cognition. The shape of
a pyramid helps to illustrate how each level is dependent upon one another. For instance,
learners cannot jump from the first stage to the fourth. They need to understand before
they can apply and analyse before they can evaluate.

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

However, it’s essential to remember that not every learner will start from the first stage.
Some of your learners may have already mastered certain skills. This allows them to jump
in somewhere in the middle and begin climbing up from there.

Knowledge Domain Verbs

Before we have a look at the six levels in more depth, let’s explore the verbs associated
with each knowledge domain in the revised taxonomy:

Remember Understand Apply Analyse Evaluate Create

Recall Grasp Use Identify Use Develop

specific meaning of information links among knowledge something
information. materials. in new ideas. to make new.
situations. judgements.

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

define associate apply analyse appraise adapt

describe classify articulate categorise argue assemble
examine compare calculate compare assess compose
identify contrast change connect choose construct
label convert chart contrast convince create
list describe compute criticise critique design
locate discuss construct deduce debate develop
match distinguish develop diagram defend facilitate
memorise explain employ differentiate editorialise hypothesise
recall illustrate examine discriminate estimate integrate
recite interpret experiment dissect evaluate invent
recognise order explain estimate grade modify
record predict illustrate evaluate judge negotiate
reproduce relate interpret experiment justify plan
retell report manipulate infer measure propose
select represent modify organise persuade revise
state restate operate plan predict role-play
tabulate select predict prioritise rank schematise
tell summarise produce question rate simulate
visualise trace relate separate reframe speculate
transform solve survey summarise support
translate transfer test support validate

Next, let’s explore each level of the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy and identify how online
learning can help you to provide appropriate learning experiences.

1. Remember
The first stage of Bloom’s original taxonomy was called ‘knowledge’. In the revised version,
the level is called ‘remember’. It is a simple stage that focuses on the basic retention of
new facts and information.

On top of being the simplest and most basic element of learning, there is another reason
why it’s at the bottom of the pyramid. Remembering is essential as your learners cannot
achieve anything else until they have a critical mass of facts in their working memory.

As such, learners who have mastered the first stage should be able to recall information
and define key terms. Their understanding of a topic should be good enough to write, for
example, a bullet point list of key concepts or find the correct search terms to expand
their knowledge.

‘Remember’ in Online Learning

At this first stage, you need to deliver information to your learners in a memorable format.
How you present this information is important.

You can use different eLearning assets to deliver the knowledge that your learners need.
For example, make sure to use varied textual content, videos, animation, images and
more to deliver engaging content to your learners. 

To ensure they remember basic information, you can create quizzes to test whether they
have absorbed the content as intended. Similarly, you can ask them to repeat key points
of their training material.

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

This step is easy to administer as you’re only checking that your learners have been paying
attention and they’ve absorbed the information. Determining their understanding comes
in the next step.

2. Understand
The second level of Bloom’s Taxonomy moves beyond merely remembering. Learners
need to demonstrate a contextual understanding of facts in order to master this step.

Knowing something is not the same as understanding it. After all, for the learning to have
any real impact, it’s pointless to simply learn a sentence by rote. 

At this step in the journey, you’ll want to check if your learners can translate the
information into their own terms.

‘Understand’ in Online Learning

You can check your learners’ understanding in several ways. For example, your learners
can show this by explaining facts to someone else, summarising the content accurately
and performing more advanced research on the topic. 

You can also use your learning management system (LMS) to assess their level of
comprehension. After all, these kinds of learning platforms come equipped with flexible
testing tools. 

You can use, for example, your LMS’s social Feed or create a Club to start a topic thread
where your learners can contribute meaningful insights to group discussions. You can also
ask your learners to write a sample blog post or record a video that explains their
understanding of the topic.

3. Apply
Once your learners understand the concept and have mastered their ability to take in
information, they need to be able to apply this new knowledge to practical contexts. 

And once they have mastered this step, they can use their newfound knowledge to solve a
problem. For instance, you would ask them to ‘use what you have learned…’ or
‘demonstrate an occasion when you applied this knowledge’. 

At this stage, they are well on their way to being able to use these skills in a more abstract
way.

‘Apply’ in Online Learning

You can ensure your learners can apply knowledge through various learning activities. For
example, you could create simple assignments where your students are given a basic
framework and have to apply their knowledge in order to achieve the desired outcome. 

Furthermore, you could create exercises on your LMS and host simulations, role-playing
or scenario-based exercises online. These can be extremely effective in applying
knowledge to different contexts while providing a safe learning environment.

4. Analyse

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

The fourth stage of the pyramid is all about analysis. Learners focus on breaking
information into smaller parts to explore the relationship between complex ideas.

As a result, they can evaluate information effectively, compare and contrast concepts and
find evidence to support their assertions. As such, it goes a step beyond simply applying
the knowledge and demonstrates a deeper understanding.

Typically, at this stage, L&D professionals present the learner with a problem without
giving too many clues as to the solution. After all, this extra challenge makes learning
more engaging and leads to better results.

‘Analyse’ in Online Learning

Various online learning tools enable your learners to master their analysis skills. You can,
of course, use testing functionality and questions on your LMS like you usually would. But
that’s not all! 

In fact, if you have a social LMS, you can unlock opportunities for effective informal
learning. Tools like Clubs and the Experts Area encourage your learners to ask for advice
while offering their own insights. 

This helps them to take ownership of their professional development. And ultimately, this
collaborative analysis adds more meaning to your training.

5. Evaluate
In the revised framework, the fifth stage is called ‘evaluate’. Mastering this level marks the
point where learners have gained a new level of independence with the topic at hand. As a
result, they know how to explain, apply and organise the information provided to them.

They can use everything they have learned to rearrange the pieces of information into
new ideas that can be tested, debated and measured. As such, at this stage, you can
expect your learners to come up with new ideas, suggestions and debates. 

As your learners now have a firm grasp of the subject matter, they can draw on it on the
spot to have spontaneous conversations and make recommendations based on their
analysis. In addition, they now have the tools and knowledge to solve problems related to
the topic.

‘Evaluate’ in Online Learning

Learners at this stage can take on more responsibility as they have an in-depth
understanding of the topic. As such, you can set them up as Experts or have them tutor
those who are still in the early stages of their learning journey.

You are now more than simply just training your learners. In fact, they can become the
catalyst for real cultural change within your organisation or educational institution. And to
maintain momentum, you need to have the right technology in place.

In this case, your LMS takes on a whole new purpose. It becomes a social network for
everyone in the business, and it secures employee engagement from induction through to
higher levels of professional development.

6. Create

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

And finally, it’s showtime. The ‘create’ stage means that your learners have reached the tip
of Bloom’s Taxonomy!

As such, your learners now have all the cognitive skills they need to go out and apply this
information to a myriad of new situations. This includes creating brand new resources to
spread the knowledge. 

As a result, once they’ve reached this final stage, your learners can generate ideas that
have the potential to shape your organisation as a whole.

‘Create’ in Online Learning

While only a handful of training initiatives are robust enough to reach this stage, there is a
lot that you can do to ensure your learners now have all the information they need to
create and innovate. 

Planning at this level takes a huge amount of collaboration. In fact, it’s essential to gather
all the knowledge necessary from every branch of the organisation. Hence, your online
platform needs to allow users to review and evaluate all the assets it contains.

With these capabilities in place, learners who are creating a new process can use all this
information, fully confident that it’s accurate and up to date. This process also ensures
that anything they end up creating is perfectly tailored to your organisation’s unique
needs.

How Does Bloom’s Taxonomy Benefit L&D Professionals?

Bloom’s Taxonomy highlights the hierarchy
learners take to synthesise information that
enables them to think critically. After
understanding this process of learning, it
becomes much easier to create effective learning
objectives.

Objectives, also known as learning goals, are an

essential part of any training programme. After
all, it’s important to establish your objectives so
that your learners understand the purpose and
benefit of their training.

Similarly, organising learning objectives helps you to clarify them to yourself and to your
learners. After all, it becomes easier to identify, plan and deliver appropriate training
material and design appropriate evaluation strategies, if you have a particular goal in
mind. 

As a result, essentially, Bloom’s Taxonomy helps you to ensure that your content and
assessments are aligned with your objectives.

Following Bloom’s Taxonomy will ensure that you are addressing the appropriate level of
learning when creating your objectives. After all, by providing action verbs, the revised
model invites you to reflect on what you are asking students to do with the information
they are set to learn.

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11/2/22, 2:09 AM Bloom's Taxonomy: Master Your Learning Objectives

And once you have identified the expected cognitive skill level your learners need to
achieve and determined the specific knowledge or skills your training course will cover,
you are ready to write your learning objectives. Let’s explore this in more detail!

Setting Objectives
You can create your objectives by combining the subject (your learner), the verb (what
learners must know how to do) and the object (the knowledge they need to acquire). 

For example, let’s form learning objectives for each level, where the object is Bloom’s
Taxonomy:

Level Example Objective

Remember By the end of their training unit, learners will be able to list the six levels of
Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Understand By the end of their training session, learners will be able to describe Bloom’s
Taxonomy in their own words.

Analyse After completing their training, learners will be able to use Bloom’s Taxonomy
to set their own learning objectives.

Apply By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to illustrate how Bloom’s
Taxonomy translates into better learning objectives.

Evaluate By the end of the training unit, learners will be able to defend their proposed
hypothesis that Bloom’s Taxonomy is the best model for creating learning
objectives.

Create After their training course, learners will be able to create a comprehensive
guidebook about Bloom’s Taxonomy.

The clear structure of the model emphasises the importance of keeping your learning
objectives clear and concise as opposed to vague and abstract. Simple, but extremely
effective!

Final Words
Bloom’s Taxonomy has been around for decades, and it’s one of the most widely used
models for setting learning objectives. And no wonder why! Above all, the framework
essentially gives you the keys to pedagogical success.

Now you have the knowledge you need to set learning objectives that pack a punch!
Therefore, it’s time to ensure your learning content matches the needs of your learners at
each level.

How? With the help of our handy Instructional Design Guidebook, of course! It’s your
one-shop-stop for creating impactful learning experiences.

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