Which learning domain encompasses "what" information a student should learn?

The cognitive domain encompasses "what" information a student should learn, as it focuses on mental skills and knowledge acquisition. This domain includes the understanding and application of facts, concepts, and principles. It is associated with various levels of learning, such as remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. In the context of teaching, the cognitive domain is crucial because it outlines the intellectual processes involved in learning new information and how students can manipulate and use that information effectively.

In contrast, the affective domain focuses on emotions, attitudes, and values, while the psychomotor domain is concerned with physical skills and coordination. The association domain is not typically recognized as part of the standard educational frameworks like Bloom's taxonomy, which categorizes learning objectives across cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. Thus, the cognitive domain is the most relevant when determining what content and knowledge students need to learn.