Say wha-? Twenty-five bits of edubabble you need to know
Have you heard school personnel speak in what sounds like a foreign language - using words such as "authentic assessment" and "multiple intelligences"? To help you understand what teachers or other school officials are talking about when they use educational jargon, we present 25 of our favorite edubabble terms and their definitions.
Advanced Placement (AP)
A high school program offering classes designed to provide students with college-level courses and examinations (AP tests) in specific subjects, for the purpose of earning college credits. There are more than 30 AP subjects, and high schools offer different courses depending on demand and resources. For more information, visit The College Board.
At-risk student
A broadly used term to describe a student whose educational experiences are threatened as a result of an adverse condition in his life. At-risk students may have socioeconomic disadvantages, minority status, learning or physical disabilities, dysfunctional families, or histories of malnutrition or poverty.
Authentic assessment
A method of testing a student's knowledge and understanding with real-life applications of the skills being taught. For example, an essay exam may provide an authentic assessment of a student's writing skills.
Categorical funds
Public money, usually from the state, that is designated for a specific purpose or population of students. The money supplements the financial base all schools receive. Examples include federal Title I money for educationally disadvantaged youths and state funding for the Gifted Education program.
Criterion-referenced test
A test designed to measure how well a student performs against a set of defined standards or criteria rather than how she compares with other students ("norm group"). For example, if the criterion is being able to add three-digit numbers, the test would measure whether a student had mastered that skill.
Differentiated instruction
A teaching practice that seeks to meet students' varied learning needs by offering several learning experiences that can be geared to different individuals, depending on their abilities and learning styles. Activities and materials may vary by difficulty to challenge students at different readiness levels, by topic in response to students' interests, and by their preferred ways of learning or expressing themselves. Typically, differentiated instruction offers two to four different learning experiences for a class.
