Edu 5210 Portfolio Activity Unit 4

We can learn mental skills, enhance our attitudes and gain new physical skills as we

perform the activities of our daily life (Hoque, 2017). Learning isn't an event but a process. It is

the continual growth and evolution in the brain's architecture that results from the many ways we

take in information, process it, connect it, and utilize it (Hoque, 2017). Learning can generally be

categorized into three domains: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor (Hoque, 2017). There are

three main domains of learning that all teachers must know and utilize to construct lessons,

which are cognitive (thinking), affective (emotion/feeling), and psychomotor

(physical/kinesthetic) (Wilson, n.d). Bloom’s taxonomy is often used to define the increasing

complexity of cognitive skills as students move forward from a beginner to a more advanced

level in their knowledge (Kasilingam et al., 2014).

As I teach in a language school, there is evidence for all the domains of learning. They

learn by doing (speaking) using PowerPoint slides; conquering their stage fear, and improving

their computer skills along the way. They also learn by listening (receiving) to their teacher

attentively so that they can learn how certain words are pronounced. They also learn by reading

as it enhances the level of their reading comprehension. After teaching the students new words or

idiomatic phrases (depending on the level of their proficiency) we ask them concept checking

questions to test their understanding. For example, if the new words we taught are win and lose,

we ask them whether the team that is leading the score one nil winning or losing the game.

Application is the final step in most cases. The students are often asked to apply the new words

or phrases in a new sentence. We do not encourage learners to climb into the higher levels of

bloom's taxonomy such as analyzing texts, creating something original, or bringing something

new from the library to discuss any new vocabulary found in class. We avoid all this because
time is our enemy, the calendar year is short, and the curriculum is not flexible. The curriculum

is loaded with content, and it has to be covered because students and teachers will be assessed

using standardized tests. If we teach students specific content, they could probably master the

content but if we teach them how to learn, they will improve themselves throughout their lives.

Every fiction or novel you read unintentionally improves your language (especially if it is your

second language). Despite the limitation of time and obligations of the curriculum, I intend to let

the admiringly motivated students move into the higher levels of the taxonomy by motivating

them to discuss the topics covered in class with their family members or search the web or the

library for further learning.

Psychomotor learning might seem irrelevant to language studies, as it is unrelated to

sports or scientific lab, but it can allow learners to improve their computer skills and stage

presence if it is integrated properly. Some adults are reluctant to use technology or shake in fear

when they stand on the stage because didn't master these skills at a younger age.

There is no plausible evidence that learning styles exist (Riener & Willingham, 2010).

Even though I don't want to argue against statistics, reading is my preferred learning style

because it gives me the time to think. However, as a language teacher, if I allow my students to

learn by reading alone; how will they learn to pronounce some words correctly? Their speaking

and writing skills might also suffer. Some students are born with an innate love of learning; any

teaching style would suit them, but the weaker students also deserve to improve.

A rich man once approached a poor man with a question, "would you choose a bag of

wisdom over a bag of money?"

"No, I wouldn't," the poor man answered.

 The rich man replied, "but I would take the wisdom and leave the money."

The poor man said, "of course, people take what they lack (don't have)."

I believe the rich are rich because they love money and the wise are wise because they

love wisdom. Therefore, our teaching style should focus on the learning style of the less

motivated students because they are the ones who will govern the world. I would let the students

work in pairs so that I can get the chance to help the students who struggle individually while the

class is busy. This will allow me to know my students, their strengths, and weaknesses so that I

can adjust my teaching style in moving every student to at least one level in the taxonomy. I

would also mix students from different levels to help the weaker ones improve their

understanding or analysis. The brighter students will also benefit as their thinking and creativity

will improve while helping their classmates.

Knowledge and growth of intellectual skills are at the core of the cognitive domain of

Bloom’s taxonomy, whereby a student can recall or recognize facts, patterns, and concepts that

will serve as a foundation for more profound learning (Persaud, 2021). Expansion of learning

skills must never be taken for granted in teaching or learning new content. The cognitive domain

also provides a strategy for investing richness in course activities while maintaining lifelong

learning skills (Persaud, 2021).

References

Hoque, M. E. (2017, January 1). Three domains of learning: Cognitive, affective and

psychomotor. Academic Research - What the research project is intended to achieve,

2(2), 45-51.
Kasilingam, G., Ramalingam, M., & Chinnavan, E. (2014). Assessment of learning domains to

improve student’s learning in higher education. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 6 (4), 27-

33. https://www.jyoungpharm.org/sites/default/files/10.5530-jyp.2014.1.5.pdf

Persaud, C. (2021, February 15). Bloom’s Taxonomy: The Ultimate Guide. Top Hat.

https://tophat.com/blog/blooms-taxonomy/

Riener, C. & Willingham, D. (2010). The Myth of Learning Styles. Change: The Magazine of

Higher Learning, 42(5), 32-35.

Wilson, O. L. (n.d). The three domains of learning: cognitive, affective and

psychomotor/kinesthetic. TheSecondprinciple. http://thesecondprinciple.com/wp-

content/uploads/2016/10/The-Three-domains-of-learning-10-2016.pdf