Day: February 24, 2012

Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy – Part 1 – Knowledge

Benjamin Bloom – Cognitive Domain – Level 1 (other levels to follow…)

The cognitive domain, (Bloom, 1956), involves knowledge and the development of intellectual skills. Domains can be thought of as categories. Trainers/Facilitators often call these three categories KSA, (Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude). This taxonomy of learning behaviours can be thought of as “the goals of the learning process.” That is, after a learning episode, the learner should have gained new skills, knowledge, and/or attitudes.


Bloom B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: The Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay Co Inc. Picture link: Edublogs: (accessed 24/02/2012).

See below a guide to writing learning objectives in the Cognitive (Knowledge Domain) – Level 1:


Level Attributes



1: Knowledge

Exhibits previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.


What is …? How is …?

Where is …? When did _______ happen?

How did ______ happen? How would you explain …?

Why did …? How would you describe …?

When did …? Can you recall …?

How would you show …?

Can you select …?

Who were the main …?

Can you list three …?

Which one …? Who was …?