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academic vocabulary

Vocabulary that is used to explain a curriculum concept but is not content-specific and may apply to a variety of curricula (e.g., analyze, compare, contrast).

accessibility

The availability of materials, instruction, or physical spaces that are designed to be used by all students, regardless of physical, cognitive, or linguistic background or ability.

accountability

Responsibility for student outcomes, generally measured against state standards.

action research

Teacher-conducted, classroom-based research whose purpose is to measure the effects of new instructional strategies, activities or techniques; the overarching goal is to improve student learning.

active learning

Approach that encourages students to be more fully engaged in learning; strategies include real-world connections, class discussions, collaborative small-group work, extended projects, debates, and hands-on activities.

adequate yearly progress

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools must meet minimum goals for attendance, test-participation, and test scores; aka AYP.

affective domain

Domain of learning that primarily engages emotional factors and attitudes; defined in defined in Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.

aggregated data

Test data that has been organized and summarized so that it can be viewed as a whole.

alternative assessment

Assessment that uses non-traditional forms of student work, such as presentations, portfolios, or projects, to measure learning. Opposite from traditional pencil-and-paper tests.

asynchronous communication

Form of communication in which participants use technology to share communication, wherein each participates at a different place and time, and face-to-face interaction does not occur. Often refers to distance learning interactions, e-mail, etc.

auditory learner

An auditory learner receives and processes information when it is presented to them orally. Auditory learners benefit the most from listening to a presentation of course material.