| Term |
Definition |
| Blended Learning |
An approach to education that combines online learning with traditional face-to-face opportunities, allowing students more flexibility to customize their learning experiences. |
| Competency-based Learning |
Learning, often referred to as proficiency or mastery based, in which students advance based on demonstration of mastery. Competencies include explicit, measurable and transferable learning objectives that empower students. Assessment is meaningful and serves as a positive learning experience for students. Students receive timely, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs. |
| Critical Reading |
When a reader understands what a text says and how that text portrays the subject matter. Recognizing the various ways in which each and every text is the unique creation of a unique author. |
| Critical Thinking |
Forms of learning, thought and analysis that go beyond the memorization and recall of information and facts. This occurs when students are analyzing, evaluating, interpreting or synthesizing information and applying creative thought to form an argument, solve a problem or reach a conclusion. |
| Differentiated Learning/Instruction |
Framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing students with different avenues to learning (often in the same classroom) in terms of acquiring content; processing, constructing or making sense of ideas; and developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability. |
| Digital Convergence |
Multiple components of the education system unifying to form a greater whole. |
| Engaging instruction |
Teaching and learning that promotes a high degree of attention, curiosity, interest and passion display when students are actively learning and making material contributions to the lesson. |
| Flexible Grouping |
Instruction is provided in evolving groups that consider student needs and is regularly adjusted to maximize each student’s performance. |
| Flipped Learning |
An instructional strategy where content is delivered prior to working face-to-face with teachers and/or peers. |
| Innovative Instruction |
Focuses on creating conducive environments within which good learning can occur by engaging students in a wide variety of innovative, high-impact educational experiences. |
| Instructional Model |
Unifying design principles of instruction that are reflected in every classroom within the district. |
| Learner-Centered |
Broadly encompasses methods of teaching that shift the focus of instruction from the teacher to the student. |
| Learner-Owned |
Students are given opportunities to lead learning activities, participate more actively in discussions, design their own learning projects, explore topics that interest them and generally contribute to the design of their own course of study. |
| Online Learning |
Teacher-led education that takes place on the internet using a web-based educational delivery system that includes software to provide a structured learning environment. The teacher and student are usually separated geographically, and classes may be delivered synchronously (communication in which participants interact in real time, such as online video) or asynchronously (communication separated by time, such as email or online discussion forums). It may be accessed from multiple settings. |
| Personalized Learning |
Learning paced to student needs, tailored to learning preferences and customized to the specific interests of different learners. Technology gives students opportunities to take ownership of their learning. |
| Relevance |
Learning experiences that are either directly applicable to the personal aspirations, interests or cultural experiences of students (personal relevance) or that are connected in some way to real-world issues, problems or contexts (life relevance). |
| Rigor |
The cognitive complexity of an instructional task. |
| Standards-Aligned |
Modifications may be made to lessons, course designs, academic programs and instructional techniques so that the concepts and skills described in the standards are taught to students at certain times, in certain sequences or in certain ways. |
| Standards-Based Curriculum |
Systems of instruction, assessment, grading and academic reporting that are based on students demonstrating understanding or mastery of the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education. |
