Education Buzzwords Directory

Let's face it: keeping up with all the latest jargon, acronyms, and fancy terms can feel like a full-time job, let alone trying to implement them all. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out, this guide is here to help you navigate the ever-changing sea of educational terminology.

A

Active Learning

Engaging students in activities that promote analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of content.

Translation: Get students moving and thinking, so they don’t fall asleep.

Adaptive Learning

Using technology to adjust the type and difficulty of learning activities based on student performance.

Translation: When the computer knows your students better than you do.

Assessment

Tests, quizzes, and all the ways we check if students are paying attention.

Translation: Finding out who actually did the reading.

B

Blended Learning

A mix of online and in-person learning.

Translation: The best of both worlds, or the worst, depending on your Wi-Fi.

C

Collaborative Learning

Students working together to solve problems, complete tasks, or learn new concepts.

Translation: Group work where one kid does all the work and the others take the credit.

Competency-Based Education

Allowing students to advance based on their ability to demonstrate competency in a subject area.

Translation: Moving forward when you’ve finally figured it out.

Critical Thinking

Teaching students to think for themselves.

Translation: Because they might actually need to use their brains one day despite having AI.

D

Data-Driven Teaching

Teaching based on numbers and stats.

Translation: When your lesson plans start looking like an accountant’s spreadsheet.

DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)

Ensuring all students feel welcome and valued.

Translation: Making sure everyone gets a seat at the table and actually wants to stay.

Differentiated Instruction

Tailoring teaching to meet individual needs.

Translation: One size fits none, so mix it up!

Discovery Learning

Letting students find out for themselves.

Translation: Organized chaos where curiosity leads the way.

Direct Instruction

Teacher-led lessons

Translation: The old-fashioned way, with a modern twist.

E

EdTech (Educational Technology)

The use of technology to support teaching and learning.

Translation: When you can’t remember life before Google Classroom.

ELLs (English Language Learners)

Students learning English as a second language.

Translation: Mastering the art of surviving English grammar.

Equity

Ensuring fairness and access for all students.

Translation: Leveling the playing field, no matter how uneven it is.

F

Fidelity

Sticking to the curriculum script.

Translation: Following the rules to a T, even when you’re tempted to improvise.

Flipped Classroom

Homework at school, lectures at home.

Translation: When students watch videos at home and come to school to do the “homework.”

Flexible Classrooms

Classrooms that adapt to different learning activities.

Translation: Desks on wheels and bean bags for everyone!

Formative Assessment

Ongoing assessments used to monitor student learning and provide feedback.

Translation: Quick check-ins to make sure students are still with you.

G

Growth Mindset

Believing in the potential for improvement.

Translation: Thinking positive thoughts even when nothing seems to stick.

H

Hybrid Learning

A blend of in-person and online instruction.

Translation: The educational equivalent of a hybrid car – sometimes efficient, sometimes confusing.

I

Inclusion

Including all students in all activities.

Translation: Everyone's part of the game, no benchwarmers here.

L

Learning Loss

What happens during summer break or unexpected breaks.

Translation: The annual tradition of forgetting everything over the summer.

M

Maker Education

Encouraging students to learn through creating, building, and experimenting.

Translation: Building cool stuff and calling it education.

Mastery

Achieving a high level of understanding.

Translation: When students finally get it and you do a happy dance.

P

PD (Professional Development)

Training sessions for teachers.

Translation: Mandatory meetings where you learn stuff you’ll forget by next week.

Personalized Learning

Customizing education to fit each student's needs.

Translation: Tailoring lessons like a bespoke suit for every single kid.

PBL (Project-Based Learning)

Students gain knowledge and skills by working on projects over an extended period of time.

Translation: Long-term projects where students become mini-experts.

PLC (Professional Learning Community)

Teacher meetings to share strategies and ideas.

Translation: A fancy way of saying "teacher teamwork time."

Pivot

Quickly changing teaching strategies.

Translation: When you realize what you are doing is NOT working. Basically, what you did during the pandemic.

Prep

Planning and preparation periods.

Translation: The sacred time when teachers attempt to get everything done to not take work home.

R

Restorative Practices

Approaches to build community and manage conflict.

Translation: Talking it out instead of punitive measures.

Rigor

Challenging academic standards.

Translation: Making school tough enough to prepare for the real world.

S

Scaffolding

Providing temporary support until students can do it on their own.

Translation: Training wheels for learning.

SEL (Social-Emotional Learning)

Teaching kids to manage emotions and build relationships.

Translation: Helping kids not just be smart, but also be nice and mentally healthy.

Self-Care

Taking care of oneself to avoid burnout.

Translation: When you finally remember to breathe and take a break.

Student-Centered Learning

Focusing on students' needs and interests.

Translation: Letting students take the driver's seat in their learning journey.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)

An educational approach that incorporates the arts into the traditional STEM subjects.

Translation: Adding a creative spark to science and math.

T

Trauma-Informed Teaching

Understanding and responding to the effects of trauma on students' learning and behavior.

Translation: Teaching with empathy and understanding the tough stuff kids go through.

Tiered Instruction

Providing different levels of instruction to meet the diverse needs of students.

Translation: Differentiated teaching with multiple layers.

21st Century Learning

Incorporating modern technology and skills.

Translation: Teaching like it's 2024, not 1954.

U

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

A framework for designing educational environments that enable all students to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning.

Translation: Making learning accessible for everyone, no matter what.

V

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

An online platform for delivering educational materials and experiences.

Translation: The digital classroom where everything happens online.

Webinar

An online seminar or workshop.

Translation: A meeting in your pajamas, where you can learn without leaving your couch.

W

Whole Child

Addressing all aspects of a student's development.

Translation: Educating not just the brain, but the heart and body too.