Learning Lingo
Term
Definition
Synonyms & Keyword Search Terms
active learning
anything that students do in a classroom other than merely passively listening to an instructor's lecture
active learning, mobile learning, experiential learning, hands-on learning
backward design
a teaching method where the teacher begins with the end goal or objective and designs instruction to develop and later assess the goal or objective
backwards design, UbD, understanding by design
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework
guidance for enhancing the rigor of K-12 civics, economics, geography, and history instruction emphasizing the acquisition and application of knowledge to prepare students for college, career, and civic life; envisions social studies instruction as an inquiry arc of four interlocking and mutually reinforcing dimensions—Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries, Applying Disciplinary Tools and Concepts, Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence, and Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
C3 Framework, College, Career, and Civic Life Framework
direct instruction
speaking to students to convey information
teacher centered, lecture, direct instruction
experiential learning
experiential learning is an approach to education that focuses on "learning by doing," on the participant's subjective experience
active learning, hands-on, experiential learning
formative assessment
a technique that uses questioning, without a summative assessment or grade, to inform instruction and provide the learner with timely or immediate feedback
formative assessment
hands-on
designing activities so that students are actively involved in the project or experiment
hands on, hands-on, hands on participation, hands-on participation, hands on learning, hands-on learning, active learning, experiential learning
inquiry-based learning
students arrive at an understanding of concepts by themselves and the responsibility for learning rests with them; the method encourages students to build research skills that can be used throughout their educational experience
inquiry guided learning,inquiry-guided learning, inquiry based learning, inquiry-based learning
integrated projects
comprehensive demonstrations of skills and knowledge learned during a unit or over time including a series of connected interdisciplinary activities involving "in class" and "out of class" time
integrated projects
performance task
an activity requiring a student to demonstrate what they know or can do; small in scope
performance task
questioning
questions around instruction to engage or assess student understanding, may be done orally or written
questioning, multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, essential questions, higher order questions
reflective learning
the process of internally examining and exploring an issue of concern, triggered by an experience, which creates and clarifies meaning in terms of self, and which results in a changed conceptual perspective
reflective learning, reflective practice, journaling, presenting, presentation
Three-Dimensional (3D) Learning
the intentional integration of three distinct dimensions—Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts—enabling students to view science as an interrelated world of inquiry and phenomena
3D learning, three-dimensional learning