If you’ve ever been in the field of education, then Bloom’s Taxonomy should sound very familiar. It’s been used in classrooms for over 50 years as a hierarchy model to organize learning objectives. I’m not here to explain the ins and outs of Bloom’s Taxonomy, but rather divulge into ways it can be applied to eLearning.
The actual names of the domains within Bloom’s Taxonomy may vary depending on where you learned it, but let’s not nitpick over little details like that.
Remember (recall facts and basic concepts)
This is probably the easiest domain to apply to eLearning. Learners at this level are simply expected to recall basic knowledge. So, if they were to watch a video, listen to a podcast, or read some text, there would be a question at the end to ensure that they absorbed the content.
Understand (explain ideas or concepts)
Understanding content is different from remembering. Here you need to comprehend the actual knowledge by explaining it. This is much easier to use in eLearning than it sounds. For example, you could help train your employees by having them read over a new contract and explain how it applies to their job. This can be done with written responses within courses as a formative assessment check.
Apply (use information in situations)
Here you want to apply the knowledge that you’ve learned and comprehended. Simulations are a great way to do this. Many authoring tools (such as Articulate 360 or Adobe Captivate) come equipped with built-in tools designed to create simulations.
Suppose your sales team needs to train more on customer service. As an instructional designer, you can create a scenario via a simulation online, and provide the learners with options on how to proceed. Or they can write and/or record their responses to upload.
Analyze (make connections between ideas)
When students can analyze, then they can take what they’ve learned and draw connections to other concepts.
A great way to do this is to use discussion boards. Almost every LMS has a feature for this. Here you can ask students questions about the content and interact with each other. It’s important that the learners comment and reply to each other in the forum. This is what helps them to start making connections. They can draw on past experiences and see the viewpoints of what their peers have to offer.
Evaluate (justify a stance or decision)
This domain can be very challenging to use in eLearning. At this point, the learner has pretty much mastered the content. Now they must be able to support what they’ve learned with examples. For instance, if an employee is attempting to sell software. It’s their job to weigh the features and capabilities of the software to the buyer. This training can be implemented with the use of simulations again or a summative assessment created at the end of a course.
Create (produce new or original work)
This is the last and most challenging stage in Bloom’s Taxonomy. Here you want your learners to show what they’ve learned from all the previous stages.
One of the best ways to do this is by holding synchronous meetings where your fellow employees or classmates can collaborate. With so many virtual conference tools available (Zoom, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams, Skype), meeting online is easier than ever.
They can create a new business plan based on the new material they just learned, or a class project using concepts from lessons. Either way, the main purpose of this domain is in the name; and that’s to create.
Take Away
Bloom’s Taxonomy shouldn’t be seen as only an educational tool used in schools. The eLearning industry is designed to help educate people. You and your team should take advantage of and utilize all the stages of Bloom’s Taxonomy when creating your projects. This will help maximize the learning experience for your users.
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