Education is a constantly evolving field, with new approaches, technologies, and concepts emerging all the time. For students and educators alike, keeping up with the latest terminology and jargon can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve compiled this glossary of education terms, complete with definitions from a variety of sources. Whether you’re a teacher, a student, or simply interested in the world of education, this glossary can help you stay informed and up-to-date. From flipped classrooms to gamification, and from formative assessment to personalized learning, this glossary covers a wide range of topics and concepts. So read on to expand your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the world of education.
- Academic Performance Index (API): A ranking of schools statewide based on student test scores. Most schools have an API, a state ranking, and growth targets for the following year.
- Assistive Technology: Any device or software that helps students with disabilities access the curriculum or perform tasks more easily.
- Blended Learning: A combination of online and face-to-face instruction that allows students to have some control over the time, place, pace, and path of their learning.
- Charter School: A public school that operates independently from the local school district under a contract or charter with an authorizer such as a state agency, university, or nonprofit organization.
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS): A set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy that outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Competency-Based Education (CBE): An approach to education that focuses on measuring student mastery of specific skills or competencies rather than seat time or credit hours.
- Credit Hour: A unit of measurement that represents the amount of time a student spends in class or engaged in academic work for a course. Typically, one credit hour equals one hour of instruction per week for a semester.
- Curriculum: The content and skills that students are expected to learn in a specific course or subject area.
- Differentiated Instruction: A teaching strategy that adapts instruction to meet the diverse needs and preferences of individual students or groups of students within the same classroom.
- Distance Education: Any form of education that takes place when the instructor and the learner are physically separated by time or space. Distance education can use various technologies such as correspondence courses, videoconferencing, online courses, etc.
- Early College High School: A type of high school that allows students to earn college credits or an associate degree while completing their high school diploma.
- Education Specialist (Ed.S.): A post-master’s degree that prepares educators for advanced roles such as school psychologists, counselors, administrators, etc.
- English Language Learner (ELL): A student who is learning English as a second or additional language and may need extra support to develop language proficiency and academic skills.
- Flipped Classroom: A teaching model that reverses the traditional order of instruction by having students watch recorded lectures or videos at home and do homework or practice activities in class with the teacher’s guidance.
- Formative Assessment: An ongoing process of gathering and analyzing evidence of student learning to provide feedback and adjust instruction accordingly. Examples of formative assessments include quizzes, exit tickets, observations, etc.
- Gamification: The use of game elements such as points, badges, leaderboards, etc. to motivate and engage students in learning activities or tasks.
- Grade Point Average (GPA): A numerical measure of a student’s academic performance based on the grades earned in courses. GPA is usually calculated on a 4.0 scale where A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0.
- High-Stakes Testing: Any standardized test that has significant consequences for students, teachers, schools, or districts based on the results. Examples of high-stakes tests include state assessments, college entrance exams, etc.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP): A legal document that outlines the special education services and accommodations that a student with a disability is entitled to receive under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- Inquiry-Based Learning: A student-centered approach to learning that involves posing questions, exploring problems, investigating phenomena, or creating products that demonstrate understanding.
- Instructional Design: The process of creating learning experiences and materials in a systematic and efficient manner based on educational theory and research.
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Learning that involves integrating knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines or subject areas to address complex problems or issues.
- Learning Management System (LMS): A software platform that facilitates the administration, delivery, and tracking of online or blended learning courses and programs.
- Mastery Learning: An approach to learning that emphasizes student mastery of specific knowledge and skills before moving on to new content or concepts.
- Microlearning: Learning that is delivered in small, bite-sized units, often through digital or mobile platforms, to promote retention and application of knowledge and skills.
- Montessori Education: A child-centered approach to education that emphasizes self-directed learning, hands-on activities, and individualized instruction.
- Multiple Intelligences: The theory that intelligence is not a single, fixed trait but rather a collection of different abilities or intelligences, such as verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.
- No Child Left Behind (NCLB): A federal law enacted in 2002 that mandated annual testing and accountability measures for all public schools receiving federal funding.
- Open Educational Resources (OER): Educational materials that are openly licensed and freely available for use, modification, and sharing.
- Personalized Learning: Learning that is tailored to the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each student, often through the use of technology or adaptive learning systems.
- Portfolio Assessment: An assessment approach that involves collecting and evaluating a student’s work samples over time to demonstrate growth and achievement in specific areas.
- Problem-Based Learning: A student-centered approach to learning that involves solving real-world
In conclusion, the field of education is rich with terminology and concepts that can be challenging to navigate. However, by understanding the key terms and ideas that shape the world of education, we can better engage with the learning process and support students in achieving their full potential. This glossary of education terms provides a comprehensive overview of some of the most important concepts in education today, from blended learning to problem-based learning and beyond. Whether you’re a student, an educator, or simply curious about the field of education, we hope this glossary has been informative and helpful. By staying up-to-date with the latest terminology and approaches in education, we can all work towards creating a brighter future for learners everywhere.
