Spirituality: The Fourth Domain

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FreedomThree domains are commonly accepted in the learning process: cognitive (thinking), affective (feelings and emotions), and psychomotor (physical skills). These domains interact with each other forming the perception of ourselves and our capacities to achieve our goals, directly affecting our behavior in relationship with environmental stimuli. The interrelationship also includes influential interaction between the environment and the domains. These interactions create a battle between what we think, how we feel, and what we are physically capable of, how we perceive and interpret our environment, how we perceive ourselves, and how we behave and react in response. I am entertaining the idea that spirituality is being neglected as a domain in itself and diluted within the cognitive and the affective domain. What if spirituality is, as the other three domains are, a domain in itself? How much or our lives is influenced by spirituality? What if spirituality is neither logic or emotions? What if neglecting spirituality as a domain in itself is like driving a car with three wheels when it should have four?

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Spirituality has been linked to every culture since the beginning of time. Many civilizations based their existence on their spiritual practices. Daily living, politics, laws, art, and architecture are some examples. In modern and contemporary society, even though many claim an absolute separation from spiritual principles, it is possible to observe an awakening of spirituality. It is important to understand and differentiate spirituality from ritualistic practices. On one way or another, the influence of spirituality is as strong as the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains in developing a perception of the self and our capabilities, and how we respond to our environment. Therefore, I propose an inclusion of the spiritual domain as an active component of the interactions between the self and the environment, and an influencer in the learning process.

The plan for my paper is to develop a relationship between the elements comprising this idea. I want to define the characteristics of each one of the domains and how, while different from each other, they are interdependent. It is my intention to differentiate between abstract functions and those that are tangible and measurable. This differentiation includes separating environmental stimuli and how they are perceived. Moreover, I want to use these definitions and relationships to develop understanding how these elements, by themselves and in combination, influence behavior and specifically our attitude and aptitudes towards learning. Understanding will lead to practical and theoretical considerations to develop awareness of our own processes, as well as strategies for modification and balancing of the influences of the domains. It is my expectation that through the exploration of this idea of spirituality as the fourth domain can shed insights in addressing people and their learning processes with a holistic approach.

Define Your Destination

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If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Lewis Carroll
(Alice in Wonderland)

Instructional system design begins with an analysis and this is a principle we can apply to more than just designing effective learning solutions. You can use these questions to define a plan of action to achieve your goals. It is futile to attempt solving a problem if we don’t know what the problem is. A good prescription comes as a result of a good diagnosis. We can’t suggest a solution without understanding the need first.Defined problems are easier to solve than undefined ones. The analysis phase is like detective work. We ask questions:

  • Where are you now?
  • Where do you want to go?
  • What do you want to accomplish?
  • Why? What is motivating you to go there?
  • How do you get there?

The answers to these questions are going to help draw a roadmap. Imagine that you are using a GPS device. Identify your current situation. Define your destination. In order to determine the best route to take you need those two pieces of information. Certainly with no destination we can arrive anywhere. Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs in case you get lost is not effective. Just ‘ok’ is not enough. There are many more questions we can ask here depending on the situation in order to form a plan of action.

In the analysis we can’t forget about affective factors that are motivating the change. The attitude towards change can define the willingness to change and how much effort would be directed towards reaching the destination. Knowing where you are going is not enough. The affective domain includes values, beliefs, feelings and emotions. This is important to build a bridge between the current and the optimal desired situation because the affective domain gives ‘color’ to behavior by setting the mindset of the process.

The last question would be answer by synthesizing the answers from the previous questions. Once you have a map, the current and the desired destination, and the motivational factors, a plan of action can be designed. Through the process of designing the plan it is important to return to these questions and the answers and determine if necessary alternative routes as time and the plan progresses. Knowing where you want to go is a step to get there. You just have to start walking towards the vision you already have.

What’s Affecting Your Domain?

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You can see it. Observe! Watch that soul dragging the body as if it was already dead. Can you feel the weight of the posture of defeat before the fight begins? As an artist and educator I’ve learned to observe people. With time you learn to read their emotions by just observing their posture and how they move around or conduct themselves. Sometimes you can hear the silent scream for help coming from their hearts. Sometimes it is us.

Born Again

Born Again

There are three learning domains: cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (movement), and affective (emotions). All three domains are essential to determine success or failure in a particular area. All three domains can be assessed, measured and quantified. All three are combined and adjust to a different measure according to the situation. However, the affective domain is the fuel and spark that shapes our drive to go on an conquer our day. Yes, we are human and circumstances can get the best of us but we can’t let the circumstances win. We can… well… take domain.

The affective domain includes interest, motivation, attitudes, anxiety levels, coping skills, faith, and the emotional interpretation of failure or success from past experiences. Knowledge and physical abilities are not enough to succeed, to go on with your day like you own it. Passion! We need more passion! Passion will engine a spark to pursue your goals, to commit! Commitment increases the chances of attainability which feeds a sense your desire to keep trying, to challenge yourself, to reach your goals, to improve, and to grow.