Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

May 22, 2009 10:49 PM

by VickyRN

Staff

Updated May 23, 2009 at 04:48 AM by VickyRN

The affective domain describes a person’s emotional attributes. As educators, why should we be concerned with the affective domain and how can these factors impact teaching and learning?

Bloom divided the process of learning into three broad hierarchical domains, or taxonomies. The three parts are not clear-cut, but overlap and interrelate.

Cognitive domain – intellectual ability, reasoning.

Affective domain – feelings, attitudes, and motivation.

Psychomotor domain – physical aptitude, manual dexterity, motor performance skills.

The affective domain describes a very complex type of emotional intelligence, encompassing attitudes, self-esteem, motivation, perceptions, feelings, and beliefs. It is distinguished from cognition and psychomotor skills, yet intimately related. Every cognitive and psychomotor behavior has an affective component. Many parts of the brain are involved.

Cognitive learning and retention of content are strongly impacted (either reinforced or hindered) by attitudes, motivation, and values. Affective attributes, therefore, are an important part of the teaching/learning process.

The affective domain is classified into five hierarchical levels of emotional commitment: receiving, responding, valuing, organizing, and characterizing.

Receiving (the lowest level) – being aware, passively open to experience, willing to pay attention. Without this foundational level, no learning can take place.

Responding (the next level) – reacting in some way, active participation in learning process, some commitment and behavior change.

Valuing (third level) – showing some definite commitment to certain ideas, attaching values, supporting.

Organizing (fourth level) – incorporating new values into one’s personal value system, ranking and prioritizing values.

Characterizing (the highest level) – consistently demonstrating behaviors in accordance with new internalized values, embracing a belief system to such a degree that the new values become “characteristic” of the learner.

Learning in the affective domain must be nurtured on a long-term basis through a profession’s socialization process. This type of learning facilitates the development of professional identity, judgment, and critical thinking, which in turn promotes high standards of performance.

More on the three learning domains and their implications for nurse educators to follow...

References

Bloom’s Taxonomy – Learning Domains

Teaching Methods in the Affective Domain

Teaching and Learning in Affective Domain

Learning Theories and Instructional Strategies

Krathwohl's Taxonomy of Affective Domain

Krathwol et al.'s Taxonomy of the Affective Domain

**VickyRN** · May 26, 2009, 10:57 AM

Re: Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

The affective domain is very important for nurse educators because this is the domain in which a nursing student's professional identity is formed. It is also the domain in which professional values, such as the ANA Code of Ethics, are imparted.

blue_yuina · May 27, 2009, 08:37 AM

Re: Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

nursing is all about caring with love and sincerity. I mean you'll go all your life being like that. Affective learning is very important in our profession...

:redbea the

**VickyRN** · May 29, 2009, 11:11 AM

Re: Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

Originally Posted by blue_yuina

Affective learning is very important in our profession...

Excellent point, blue_yuina.

New To Site	Need Help	Quick Links
Create An Account General Site Map allnurses.com Journals Terms Of Service Privacy Policy Testimonials Meet Our Staff Advertising Information	Information Center & FAQ Boards of Nursing How-To Video Tutorials Did you forget your password? Compare Membership Contact allnurses.com Text Version Mark All Sections As Read	United States Nursing International Nursing Nursing Specialty Advanced Practice Nursing Critical Care Nursing Nursing Specialties Get In Touch... Find Us On Facebook Follow Us On Twitter

Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

Teaching and Learning in the Affective Domain

Nursing News

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

An outlook in California?

Available Topics (tags)