Part 2

While objectives level the information to be learned, domains of learning represent the areas in which one learns. The three learning domains are cognitive, which represents intellectual knowledge; psychomotor, which represents knowledge that requires kinesthetic or hands-on application; and affective, which represents knowledge that is assimilated through a change in attitude.

When a student learns the physiology of the infectious process, it is cognitive knowledge. Psychomotor learning is exemplified when a student learns to change a dressing over an infected wound. Affective learning is demonstrated by a student who changes lifestyle habits to decrease the transmission of infection or a student who learns to be nonjudgmental toward patients with specific infections.

Since objectives must be measurable, words like know and understand are not suitable objective verbs. Requiring a student to describe the pathophysiologic process and list the signs and symptoms of an infection are examples of measurable objectives. Clear and well-written objectives best communicate the educational focus and intent of the instruction and inform both student and instructor as to how knowledge will be evaluated.

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