LEARNING

Whether we realize it or not, we learn something new every day.  We may not always be learning something as complex as Einstein's Theory of Relativity, but we do learn something.  Maybe the only thing we learn is that the new submarine sandwich we just ate was good.  If so, our brain stores that information so we can order it again.
 

However, no matter what we learn, we do learn.  Many theories on how our brain works exist and how learning takes place.  To take full advantage of your college education, become acquainted with some of the methods.
 

One of the main aims of the Teaching and Learning Center is to help students "learn how to learn".  Our main offering in that area is through one-on-one tutoring.  However, we also provide several web pages of TLC Learning Tips and internet links on learning strategies. The TLC pages on learning are listed in the left margin.
 

If you are a student who would like more information on a personal level or an instructor who would like a workshop on learning strategies, please call or come into the Teaching and Learning Center.  Our numbers are (270) 686-4534 to set up an appointment with Jelaine McCamish or (270) 686-4532 to contact Judy Coomes, TLC Director, to set up a workshop.
 

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

Bloom's taxonomy is a type of organization of how we learn consists of three main areas:  cognitive domain, affective domain, and psychomotor domain.

COGNITIVE DOMAIN -  The cognitive domain involves mental skills (knowledge).

The domain is made up of six different levels.  If you were to look at the domain in a figure form, it would look like an upside down pyramid.  The lowest level of cognition would be the tip. 

• Perhaps another way of looking at the cognitive domain is like an old fashioned, manual bore. You grabbed its handle, which turned its tip to bore into wood. 

  • Once you have accomplished all six levels, you can grab the two handles of the base of the pyramid and really drill down into your subject.

• Another way of looking at the cognitive domain is like a game.  Unless you "master" the tip, you cannot "move up" to the next level.  If you try without mastering each level, the upside down pyramid will fall.

The following are the levels of cognition from the tip - the least - to the most. 

Below are explanations of each area of the cognitive level.

AFFECTIVE DOMAIN - The affective domain involves growth in feelings or emotional areas (attitude).

The affective domain involves our behavior, how we deal with our world emotionally.  The affective domain is feelings, values, appreciation, enthusiasms, motivations, and attitudes.  This domain has five categories.

• Receiving phenomenon - Key word:  awareness.
  • Verbs used:  asks, chooses, describes, follows, gives, holds, identifies, locates, names, points to, selects, sits, erects, replies, uses.
• Responding to the phenomena - Key word:  participation
  • Verbs used:  answers, assists, aids, complies, conforms, discusses, greets, helps, labels, performs, practices, presents, reads, recites, reports, selects, tells, writes.
• Valuing the phenomena - Key word:  belief
  • Verbs used:  completes, demonstrates, differentiates, explains, follows, forms, initiates, invites, joins, justifies, proposes, reads, reports, selects, shares, studies, works.
• Organizing the phenomena - Key word:  priorities
  • Verbs used:  adheres, alters, arranges, combines, compares, completes, defends, explains, formulates, generalizes, identifies, integrates, modifies, orders, organizes, prepares, relates, synthesizes.
• Internalizing the phenomena - Key word:  principles
  • Verbs used:  acts, discriminates, displays, influences, listens, modifies, performs, practices, proposes, qualifies, questions, revises, serves, solves, verifies.

PSYCHOMOTOR DOMAIN - The psychomotor domain involves manual or physical skills (skills).

TLC RESOURCES - The following items are for use with the guidance of a staff member and are not available for checkout.