Absolute Grading
Absolute grading is a mode of grading where grades are given based on predetermined cutoff levels. Here, each point…
Read moreEducational terms beginning with letter “A”
Academic Achievement
Academic achievement describes academic outcomes that indicate the extent to which a student has achieved their learning…
Read moreAcademic Advisor
Academic advisor is someone in a professional position at an institution who may guide prospective and current students…
Read moreAcademic Affairs
Academic affairs is the institutional office that oversees a variety of academic programs and departments at a school.…
Read moreAcademic Benchmarks
Academic benchmarks involve setting measurable standards for evaluating one’s learning. Academic benchmarks may be set…
Read moreAcademic Freedom
Academic freedom is where faculty and students can engage in progressive debate without fearing interference or…
Read moreAcademic Hold
An academic hold is a type of restriction imposed by a school to prevent students from enrolling in classes or gaining…
Read moreAcademic Literacy
Academic literacy is the ability to understand and contextualize the academic vocabulary required in post-secondary…
Read moreAcademic Press
Academic press, sometimes referred to as a university press, is a publishing house associated with a post-secondary…
Read moreAcademic Probation
Academic probation indicates that a student isn’t excelling academically and will not meet their graduation…
Read moreAcademic Rigor
What is Academic Rigor Academic Rigor is generally regarded as three different steps in the educational process. The…
Read moreAccelerated Learning
Accelerated learning is a learning format that allows students to complete courses in a shorter period of time compared…
Read moreAccreditation
Accreditation is a recognition awarded to schools that maintain a certain educational standard. The goal of the…
Read moreAccuplacer
Accuplacer is a testing system used to determine whether post-secondary students are academically prepared to take…
Read moreAchievement Gap
Achievement gap describes a significant difference in academic outcomes or educational attainment between diverse groups…
Read moreAction Learning Sets
What are Action Learning Sets Action learning sets are structured learning methods that allow small groups to address…
Read moreAction Research
Action research encompasses research methods used to evaluate, investigate and analyze weaknesses within academia.…
Read moreActive Learning
Active learning is a pedagogical technique coined by professors Charles Bonwell and James Eison in their 1991 book…
Read moreAdjunct Professor
An adjunct professor is a professor who teaches on a limited-term contract and is ineligible for tenure.
Read moreAdministrative Hold
An administrative hold is a type of restriction imposed on students by their institution for a variety of infractions.…
Read moreAffective Domain
The affective domain is one of the three domains in Bloom’s Taxonomy. It involves feelings, attitudes, and emotions.
Read moreAgile Learning
Agile learning is a method which uses incremental steps that alternate between phases of learning and completing work…
Read moreAssociate Dean
Associate dean is the title given to those who report to and are responsible to the dean for specific administrative…
Read moreAssociate Professor
Associate professor is the title given to someone who has achieved tenure. One rank above assistant professors, this…
Read moreAssociate Provost
Associate provost is the umbrella term for academic administrators within a variety of departments at a university.…
Read moreAt Risk Student
An at-risk student describes a student or groups of students who are likely to fail or drop out of their school. Grades,…
Read moreAuthentic Assessment
Authentic assessment is where students thoughtfully apply their acquired skills to a new situation or environment.…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “B”
Backward Design
Backward design is a method of educational curriculum design that sets goals prior to selecting instructional methods…
Read moreBalanced Assessment
A balanced assessment is an assessment system where tools, methodologies and data systems inform decision-makers such as…
Read moreBlended Learning
Blended learning combines in-person teaching and interaction with supplemental online educational elements. An…
Read moreBlock Scheduling
Block scheduling is a method that is used in the American education system, where each student has approximately four…
Read moreBloom’s Taxonomy
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can help teachers and students in the classroom.…
Read moreBursar’s Office
The bursar's office is responsible for collecting and analyzing all student charges and fees which includes tuition and…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “C”
Catalog Year
Catalog year indicates the year that a student began studying at a particular institution. For example, if a student…
Read moreCenter for Teaching and Learning
Center for Teaching and Learning (or CTL) is a department found at all universities, which is dedicated to supporting…
Read moreCertificate Program
Certificate Programs are shorter and generally more affordable than degree programs. They are typically eight to twelve…
Read moreCo-Teaching
Co-teaching is an educational method that involves two teachers working together to plan a classroom and make…
Read moreCollaborative Classroom
A collaborative classroom is a classroom where students actively work with each other and with an educator in an active…
Read moreCollaborative Inquiry
Collaborative inquiry is designed to help instructors improve their teaching practices. Instructors work together to…
Read moreCollaborative Learning Theory
Collaborative learning theory is rooted in Lev Vygotsky’s idea, Zone of Proximal Development. Here, learners rely on…
Read moreCollege Remediation
What is College Remediation College Remediation is a supplementary education program that are assigned to students in…
Read moreCollege Transfer
College transfer is the process through which students can move between higher ed institutions.
Read moreCommon Assessment
A common assessment is a standardized method of evaluating student learning, progress and knowledge retention,…
Read moreComprehension Check
Comprehension check is where an instructor informally assesses their students’ comprehension across a course. These…
Read moreConnected Learning
Connected learning is a learning technique where students, instructors and advisors actively participate with one…
Read moreCooperative Learning
Cooperative learning is where students work with one another and alongside their instructors to accomplish mutually…
Read moreCourse Catalog
A course catalog is a list of courses that are offered by a post-secondary institution. Generally circulated online,…
Read moreCourse Management System
A course management system is a platform of educational software in postsecondary education allowing instructors and…
Read moreCourse Syllabus
A course syllabus is an academic document that communicates information about a specific course and explains the rules,…
Read moreCritical Literacy
Critical literacy is a learning approach where students are expected to examine various texts to understand the…
Read moreCritical Thinking
Critical thinking is a practice that encourages students to analyze information objectively and form reasoned…
Read moreCulture of Learning
A culture of learning is a culture where employees search for, and then apply, skills and knowledge to enhance their…
Read moreCurriculum
Curriculum is used to describe the lessons and content taught in school. This term encompasses the assignments that…
Read moreCurriculum Design
Curriculum design is the planning period when instructors organize the instructional units for their course. Curriculum…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “D”
Deductive Learning
Deductive learning is a more instructor-centered approach to education. Concepts and generalizations are introduced…
Read moreDeeper Learning
Deeper learning is an academic philosophy that places an emphasis on providing learners with robust skills and education…
Read moreDeferred Admissions
Deferred admissions means that an institution has not yet completed reviewing an application file and will make a final…
Read moreDepartment Chair
A department chair is a faculty member in a given academic department, assigned by the dean to manage that department.
Read moreDesign Thinking
Design thinking is an interactive process that aims to understand the user and challenge their assumptions, as well as…
Read moreDiagnostic Assessment
A diagnostic assessment is a form of pre-assessment where teachers can evaluate students’ strengths, weaknesses,…
Read moreDiagnostic Teaching
Diagnostic teaching is the process of discovering individual student abilities, needs and objectives and prescribing…
Read moreDifferentiated Instruction
Differentiated instruction is a mode of teaching that accounts for students’ individual needs and learning styles…
Read moreDigital Classroom
A digital classroom is typically one that incorporates electronic devices and software into the learning environment. A…
Read moreDigital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling is a short form of digital media production that allows everyday people to share experiences and…
Read moreDirect Instruction
Direct instruction is where teachers use explicit teaching techniques to teach a specific skill to their students. This…
Read moreDisaggregated Data
Disaggregated data is data that has been divided into detailed sub-categories.
Read moreDissertation
A dissertation is a lengthy written project prepared at the end of an academic program. There are two types of…
Read moreDistance Learning
Distance learning is where students educate themselves without in-person interaction among peers or an instructor.…
Read moreDrop a Class
Drop a class is a function in an institution’s student portal for students to remove themselves from a class. This…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “E”
E-Learning
E-learning is a mode of learning that takes place electronically, often via the Internet. It requires students to use…
Read moreEarly Alert
Early alert is an online tool that institutions use to identify at-risk students early in the semester. This tool allows…
Read moreEducation Reform
Education reform is the term for the goal of changing public education in terms of educational theory and practice.…
Read moreEducation System
An education system is an arrangement that consists of at least one teacher and one student in a context, such as in a…
Read moreEducational Technology
Educational technology is a term used to describe a wide array of teaching-and-learning–related software and hardware…
Read moreELL Students
ELL students, also known as English Language Learners, are students who learn the language of instruction—English—at…
Read moreEntry Ticket
Entry tickets are simple student diagnostic tools that can provide professors with a metric on student comprehension of…
Read moreExperiential Learning
Experiential learning is a process of education through experience, followed by reflection on that experience.
Read moreExtracurricular
An extracurricular is any activity that doesn’t count towards an academic credit. These are activities that students…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “F”
Face-to-Face Learning
Face-to-face learning is an instructional method where course content and learning objectives are taught in person to a…
Read moreFinal Assessment
A final assessment is the last activity students must complete in a course. A final assessment may be an exam, a…
Read moreFinancial Aid
Financial aid includes funds from the government, private organizations and/or from an educational institution to help…
Read moreFinancial Hold
A financial hold is a type of restriction imposed by an institution as a result of a student not paying their fees in…
Read moreFirst-Generation Student
A first-generation student is a student who is the first in their family, not including siblings, to attend a…
Read moreFixed Mindset
A fixed mindset, proposed by Stanford professor Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, describes people who see their…
Read moreFlexible Learning
Flexible learning is a method of learning where students are given freedom in how, what, when and where they learn.…
Read moreFlipped Classroom
A flipped classroom is one that focuses on developing student understanding in class rather than via lectures. Here, the…
Read moreFormative Assessment
A formative assessment refers to a low-stakes assessment that does not normally contribute towards a student’s final…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “G”
Game Based Learning
Game based learning is where game characteristics and principles are embedded within learning activities. Here, learning…
Read moreGamification
Gamification is the process of integrating games into pre-existing activities or processes in order to increase…
Read moreGeneral Education Courses
General Education courses are required classes taken by students enrolled in traditional four-year degree programs at…
Read moreGeneral Education Courses
General Education courses are required classes taken by students enrolled in traditional four-year degree programs at…
Read moreGrading on a Curve
Grading on a curve is a practice used by teachers to determine student grades for assignments and/or exams, where grades…
Read moreGraduate Application
A graduate application is to be completed by a student who wants to enroll in a Master’s or doctoral degree.…
Read moreGraduate School
Graduate school (sometimes shortened to grad school) is an academic institution that awards advanced degrees.
Read moreGraduation Rate
A graduation rate is a measure of how many students who began in the same cohort will graduate in six years for…
Read moreGroup Work
Group work is exactly what the term implies: students work together in groups to complete assessments and projects.…
Read moreGrowth Mindset
A growth mindset, proposed by Stanford professor Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, describes people who believe that…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “H”
Habits of Mind
Habits of mind is a term used to refer to dispositions certain intelligent individuals utilize when faced with…
Read moreHands-on Learning
Hands-on learning is where instructors engage with students in direct experience and focused reflection to enhance…
Read moreHeterogeneous Grouping
Heterogeneous grouping is a distribution tactic in the classroom, whereby diverse students (for example, students that…
Read moreHidden Curriculum
Hidden Curriculum is a side effect of education where lessons are learned but not openly intended. Hidden curriculum…
Read moreHigh-Order Thinking Skills
High-order thinking skills are a series of important competencies individuals can utilize in order to improve learning…
Read moreHigh-Stakes Testing
High-stakes testing is any test that is used to make decisions about outcomes related to punishments (e.g. penalties),…
Read moreHybrid Class
What is a Hybrid Class Hybrid class is a course that combines traditional, face-to-face “seat time” with some online…
Read moreHybrid Instruction
Hybrid instruction, similar to blended learning, combines in-class instruction with online activities. Here,…
Read moreHybrid Learning
Hybrid learning is where students learn through a mix of in-person and online activities. Students are encouraged to…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “I”
Inclusion in Education
Inclusion in education is the term used to describe the goal of treating everyone equitably and contributing fully to an…
Read moreIndependent Study
Independent study is a form of educational activity undertaken by an individual student with little to no supervision.
Read moreIndividualized Instruction
Individualized instruction is where students’ personal needs are placed at the forefront of an instructor’s teaching…
Read moreInformal Learning
Informal learning is any type of education that does not have a set objective in regard to its learning outcomes.
Read moreInquiry-Based Learning
Inquiry-based learning is a learning and teaching approach that emphasizes students’ questions, ideas and…
Read moreInstructional Design
Instructional design is a systematic approach to education that prompts educators to familiarize themselves with the…
Read moreInstructional Theory
Instructional theory aims to describe how to help people learn and develop, create conditions that boost the chance of…
Read moreInstructor
Instructor is the title for an individual responsible for teaching students in a particular subject area. Instructors…
Read moreInteractive Whiteboard
An interactive whiteboard is a digital device that allows users to project files and manipulate them on a board’s…
Read moreInterdisciplinary Teaching
Interdisciplinary teaching is a method of educational instruction whereby a student learns about a single topic or issue…
Read moreInterim Assessment
An interim assessment is a periodic assignment used to evaluate students’ learning progress. These assessments,…
Read moreInternship
An internship is a period of work experience provided to students by an organization for a limited period of time
Read moreIntrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is a term that refers to a person’s behavior when it’s driven by personal satisfaction—doing…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “K”
Kinesthetic Learning
Kinesthetic learning is a style of obtaining information. Kinesthetic learning’s primary premise is that a student…
Read moreKnowledge Transfer
Knowledge transfer is the process of academics engaging in various activities to pass their knowledge to different…
Read moreKnowledge Visualization
Knowledge visualization is the utilization of a visual or visuals to disseminate information to a person or persons.…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “L”
Lab Course
A lab course is a smaller, individual course component that supplements larger lectures. Labs allow for hands-on,…
Read moreLearning Accommodations
Learning accommodations are personalized assessment, instructional, and environmental strategies necessary for an…
Read moreLearning by Teaching
Learning by teaching is a mode of learning where students are expected to comprehend material and then prepare…
Read moreLearning Commons
Learning commons is a means to encourage participatory learning at school. This is a shared space with physical and…
Read moreLearning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are an articulation of the specific skills, attitudes and segments of knowledge a student should…
Read moreLearning Style
A learning style is the way that different students learn. A style of learning refers to an individual’s preferred way…
Read moreLearning Technology
Learning technology is an umbrella term that describes communication, information and technological tools used to…
Read moreLecture Capture
Lecture capture is when a lecture is recorded for the purpose of distributing resources to students who are either…
Read moreLecture Tools
Lecture tools act as audience, classroom or student response systems to collect real-time feedback during the teaching…
Read moreLesson Plan
A lesson plan is a teacher’s guide for facilitating a lesson. It typically includes the goal (what students need to…
Read moreLocus of Control
E-learning is a mode of learning that takes place electronically, often via the Internet. It requires students to use…
Read moreLow-Stakes Testing
Low-stakes testing involves the frequent use of evaluation instruments that have little impact on a student's course…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “M”
Mastery Learning
What is Mastery Learning In mastery learning, students must attain a given level set by their instructor in order to…
Read moreMatriculation
Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university as a candidate for a degree or of becoming eligible to…
Read moreMemorization Techniques
Memorization techniques are strategies that ease the retention of information process over time for the purpose of…
Read moreMetacognition in the Classroom
Metacognition in the classroom is a principle that helps students make greater sense of their life experiences and can…
Read moreMinor Degree
An academic minor degree is is a university or college student’s secondary declared academic discipline or field of…
Read moreMultiple Intelligences
Multiple intelligences is a theory first posited by Harvard developmental psychologist Howard Gardner in 1983 that…
Read moreMultiple Measures
Multiple measures are the use of multiple indicators to measure student learning. This data is collected at multiple…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “O”
Online Class
An online class is a course conducted over the internet. They are generally conducted through a learning management…
Read moreOnline Learning
Online learning is a method of education whereby students learn in a fully virtual environment. First introduced in the…
Read moreOpen Classroom
An open classroom kit a student-centered learning space that has a large group of students boasting wide variety of…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “P”
Performance Assessment
Performance assessment is a task students must perform instead of than write a test. For instance, in a Spanish class,…
Read morePersonalized Learning
Personalized learning is a set of diverse educational programs, instructional approaches and support systems that aim to…
Read morePostsecondary Education
Postsecondary Education, also known as tertiary education, is the education level that follows the successful completion…
Read morePrerequisite Course
A prerequisite course must be completed prior to another course. Prerequisites are often implemented at all education…
Read morePrior Knowledge
Prior knowledge is the information and educational context a learner already has before they learn new information
Read moreProblem-based learning
Problem-based learning is an educational philosophy that centers students’ learning experiences by allowing them to…
Read moreProfessional Development
Professional development is the set of tools, resources, and training sessions for educators to improve their teaching…
Read moreProgrammed Instruction
Programmed instruction is a method of presenting new subject matter to students through a graded sequence of controlled…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “R”
Reflective Practice
What is Reflective Practice Reflective Practice is a continuous learning process where individuals recall their own…
Read moreRelative Grading
Relative grading is a system of assessment whereby teachers in some university and college classes determine student…
Read moreRevised Bloom’s Taxonomy
Revised Bloom’s taxonomy emphasizes students’ learning outcomes through the use of refined terms. The revised…
Read moreRote Learning
Rote learning is the process of memorizing information based on repetition. Rote learning enhances students’ ability…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “S”
Sage on the Stage
Sage on the stage is a teaching method where a professor imparts knowledge by lecturing to their class. Students are…
Read moreScaffolding in Education
Scaffolding in Education is an educational technique that uses progressive steps to move students towards greater…
Read moreScientific Inquiry
Scientific inquiry has two primary functions. Firstly, it provides a description of how scientific inquiry is conducted…
Read moreScope and Sequence
Scope and sequence is a term that describes the ideas and concepts that will be covered in a book or course within a…
Read moreSelf-Paced Learning
Self-Paced Learning refers to one of four elements of integral self-evaluations — in addition to neuroticism,…
Read moreSenior Lecturer
Senior lecturer refers to faculty members who make a significant contribution to teaching and development within their…
Read moreService Learning
What is Service Learning Service learning is an educational approach that combines traditional curricular learning…
Read moreSocratic Questioning
Socratic questioning relies on thoughtful, disciplined dialogue and questions intended to help students determine the…
Read moreStandardized Test
A standardized test is a method of assessment built on the principle of consistency: all test takers are required to…
Read moreStudent Achievement
Student achievement is the measurement of the amount of academic content a student learns in a given time frame.
Read moreStudent Affairs
Student affairs is the department or division of services for student success. This group of smaller departments are in…
Read moreStudent Centered Learning
Student centered learning puts students’ individual needs and interests at the forefront of instructors’ teaching…
Read moreStudent Empowerment
Student empowerment is where students gain the authority and agency to make decisions on their own and implement their…
Read moreStudent Engagement
Student engagement is the extent to which students show attention, curiosity, optimism and interest in the material that…
Read moreStudent Enrollment
Student enrollment is the process of arranging to attend an institution and specific classes. This term may also…
Read moreStudent Identification
Student identification is the unique number assigned to all full-time and part-time students at a post-secondary…
Read moreStudent Orientation
Student orientation is the period prior to the start of the academic year at a college or university where a variety of…
Read moreStudent Response System
A student response system (SRS) allows instructors to gather real-time feedback during lectures through digital polls…
Read moreSummative Assessment
Summative assessment is an assessment administered at the end of an instructional unit in a course. These assessments…
Read moreSupplemental Instruction
Supplemental instruction is a form of peer-instruction between a current student in a course and former students who…
Read moreSynchronous Learning
Synchronous learning is where students rely on instant communication, such as instant messaging, to interact with their…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “T”
Teaching Assistant
A teaching assistant (TA) is typically a graduate student who assists a professor with instructional responsibilities. A…
Read moreTechnology Literacy
Technology literacy is a term used to describe an individual’s ability to assess, acquire and communicate information…
Read moreTertiary Education
Tertiary education, also called post-secondary education, is any level of education pursued beyond high school,…
Read moreThink-Pair-Share
Think-pair-share is a collaborative teaching strategy that can be used to aid students in forming original ideas by…
Read moreTraditional Classroom
A traditional classroom is where a teacher moderates and regulates the flow of information and knowledge. Students are…
Read moreTranscript
A transcript is a student's inventory of the courses they have taken towards their degree and the grades they received.
Read moreTransfer Articulation
Transfer articulation refers to a set of agreements between institutions that permit students to transfer from one…
Read moreTransfer Credit
A transfer credit is put towards a current credential at an accredited institution from a separate school that a student…
Read moreTwenty-first Century Learning
Twenty-first century learning is the accumulation of knowledge, work habits and soft skills, including digital literacy,…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “U”
Universal Design
Universal design is the structure and composition of an environment so that it can be understood, accessed and used by…
Read moreUniversal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning is a system created to ensure students with learning differences can thrive in the same…
Read moreUniversity
A university is a higher learning institution focussed on education and research. In North America, students attend…
Read moreUniversity Commencement
University commencement is a celebratory ceremony held by a university at the end of the school year. The ceremony…
Read moreUniversity Convocation
University convocation is usually a bi-annual celebration where graduating students receive their academic hoods, and…
Read moreUnofficial Withdrawal
Unofficial withdrawal is a status assigned to a student who receives federal financial aid but has not fulfilled their…
Read moreUrban Education
Urban education is a method of schooling that takes place in large, densely populated areas with diverse populations. It…
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Educational terms beginning with letter “V”
Value Added Measures
Value added measures quantify the effect that individual teachers have on student learning through a term. Statistical…
Read moreValue-Added Learning
What is Value-Added Learning Value-added learning is a method of evaluation that analyzes an individual teacher’s…
Read moreVice-Provost, Academic
Vice-Provost, Academic is the title for someone who plans, leads and implements key academic initiatives across all…
Read moreVirtual Classroom
A virtual classroom is a digital learning environment that allows teachers and students to connect in online in real…
Read moreVirtual Learning Environment
A virtual learning environment is an online-based platform that offers students and professors digital solutions that…
Read moreVision Statement for Education
A vision statement for education is a public declaration that an educational institution makes describing their core…
Read moreVisual Learning
Visual learning is a type of learning style in which students prefer to use images, graphics, colors and maps to…
Read moreVocational Education
Vocational education help to prepare students for a specific career. This type of education can take place in trade…
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