The instructional systems design (ISD) includes the process of analyzing,
designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating solutions to human
performance problems. The analysis component includes identification of
cognitive tasks and cognitive components of psychomotor tasks. During
the design phase, learning objectives are written that define the goals of
instruction.
Cognitive learning is defined through the development of general and
specific learning objectives. The general objectives are based on the
cognitive processing dimensions of the cognitive learning taxonomy, either
Bloom's original work in 1956 or the Revised Taxonomy work in 2001 of
Anderson and Krathwohl. That is, they begin with verbs from the six levels
of the taxonomy. These general objective verbs are not measurable and thus,
can create objectives that
are not clear. Thus, we write specific objectives associated with each
general objective. Each specific objective begins with a measurable verb. The following tutorial is
designed to assist you with the development of cognitive learning
objectives - general and specific.
Objective: Given a
cognitive task or the cognitive component of a psychomotor task, the
learner will develop general and specific learning objectives aligned
with the six cognitive processing dimensions of the cognitive learning
taxonomy and associated measurable verbs.
Step 1.
Review the following
definitions.
-
cognitive task:
performance that requires cognitive behavior - thinking, problem
solving, decision making, evaluating.
-
cognitive
component of a psychomotor task: cognitive behavior that is the
foundation to a performance requiring small or gross motor action.
-
cognitive
processing dimensions: the hierarchical levels of the cognitive
learning taxonomy - remember, understand, apply, analyze,
synthesize, and evaluate.
-
general objective:
imperative sentence that defines a broad learning outcomes and
beings with a verb associated with the hierarchical levels of the
cognitive learning taxonomy.
-
measurable verb:
action word that is observable through the senses.
-
specific objective: imperative sentence that defines a precise learning
outcomes and beings with a measurable verb associated a general
objective.
Step 2. Review guidelines for
identifying the cognitive learning outcomes to be measured.
Step 3.
Complete the
Application Quiz
to assess your understanding of writing
general and specific learning objectives using the cognitive learning
taxonomy.
