Taxonomy for Learning Outcomes
Familiarly known as Bloom’s taxonomy, a framework for categorizing educational goals was first
published in 1956 by Benjamin Bloom1. This framework consists of six major categories: Knowledge,
Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. Beginning with “knowledge”, the
subsequent categories encompass “skills and abilities,” with the understanding that knowledge is the
necessary precondition for putting skills and abilities into practice.
By creating learning outcomes based on this taxonomy, educators can indicate explicitly what the
student must do in order to demonstrate learning, establishing an important pedagogical interchange
between instructor and student. The foundation of effective teaching practices, valid assessment design
and strategies are facilitated by this framework.
1
Bloom, Benjamin. Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: The Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay,
1956.Table format derived from the College of Southern Nevada http://www.csn.edu/PDFFiles/Curriculum%20Committee/Outcomes%20and%20Blooms%20Taxonomy.pdf