Plain English Meaning

The thinking and knowing side of learning. It describes how a student moves from simply memorizing facts, to understanding them, to using them, and finally to connecting them with other things they know.

Full Definition

One of the three domains of learning, the cognitive domain covers mental skills and the acquisition of knowledge. It is organized as a hierarchy of thinking levels, typically rote memorization, understanding, application, and correlation, with each level building on the one before it.

Context Anchor

Used in the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook when explaining how instructors plan lessons and evaluate different kinds of student learning.

Derivation

From the Latin cognoscere, meaning 'to know' or 'to come to know.' The same root gives us 'recognize.' It points to the part of learning that happens in the mind, as to physical skill or .