Student FAQs

Glossary

  • Accreditation: The process by which a recognized body evaluates and verifies that an educational institution or program meets certain predetermined standards of quality and integrity.
  • Accreditation Visit: A site visit conducted by an accrediting agency to verify an educational institution or program's compliance with accreditation standards.
  • Annual Review: A process in which an educational institution or program evaluates its performance over the past year, identifies areas for improvement, and develops plans to address those areas.
  • Benchmarking: A process of comparing the performance of an educational institution or program against industry standards or best practices.
  • Evaluation: The systematic and objective assessment of an educational institution or program, including its strengths and weaknesses, to determine its overall quality.
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Measurable values that demonstrate how effectively an educational institution or program is achieving its goals and objectives.
  • Program Review: A process of evaluating the effectiveness and quality of a specific educational program, in order to identify areas for improvement and ensure that it meets or exceeds established standards and best practices.
  • Quality Assurance: A set of systematic and continuous processes that ensure that educational institutions and programs meet or exceed established standards of quality and effectiveness.
  • Rubric: A tool used to evaluate student work based on a set of predefined criteria, often used to assess learning outcomes or provide feedback on assignments.
  • Self-Study: A process in which an educational institution or program evaluates its own performance and effectiveness, identifies areas for improvement, and develops a plan for improvement.
  • Self-Study Report: A comprehensive document that provides an overview of an educational institution or program, including its mission, goals, objectives, and achievements, as well as areas for improvement and plans for improvement.
  • Standards: Established criteria or expectations that educational institutions and programs must meet in order to be accredited or recognized as meeting certain quality criteria.
  • Verification: The process of confirming that an educational institution or program has met the established standards of quality and integrity and is therefore eligible for accreditation or recognition. It typically occurs as a part of the initial accreditation process or during a periodic review.
  • Active Learning: Active learning refers to teaching methods and approaches that engage students in the learning process, such as through discussion, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.
  • Backward Design: A design approach where the course goals and objectives are established first, followed by the selection of appropriate instructional strategies and assessments.
  • Bloom's Taxonomy: Bloom's Taxonomy is a framework for categorizing educational objectives and learning outcomes, with six levels ranging from lower-order thinking skills (e.g. remembering and understanding) to higher-order thinking skills (e.g. analyzing and creating).
  • Cognitive Load: The amount of mental effort required to process information.
  • Collaborative Learning: Collaborative learning is a teaching method that involves students working together in groups to achieve a common goal, such as through group projects, discussions, or problem-solving tasks.
  • Curriculum: The set of courses and learning experiences offered by an educational institution or program, designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in their field of study.
  • Faculty Handbook: A document that outlines the policies, procedures, and expectations for faculty members at an educational institution.
  • Flipped Classroom: A flipped classroom is a teaching approach in which students review course materials (e.g. videos, readings) outside of class, and then use class time for discussion, problem-solving, and other interactive activities.
  • Formative Assessment: Formative assessment is a type of assessment that is used to monitor student learning and provide feedback for improvement, such as through quizzes, homework assignments, or classroom discussions.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: Inquiry-based learning is a teaching approach in which students are given open-ended questions or problems to investigate, encouraging them to ask questions, conduct research, and draw their own conclusions.
  • Learning Management System (LMS): A learning management system is a software platform used to manage and deliver educational content and resources, such as course materials, assignments, and grades.
  • Plagiarism: The act of using someone else's ideas, work, or words without giving proper credit or attribution.
  • Problem-Based Learning: Problem-based learning is a teaching approach in which students are presented with real-world problems or scenarios, and are required to work together to find solutions, often drawing on interdisciplinary knowledge and skills.
  • Scaffolding: The process of breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps that build on each other.
  • Socratic Method: The Socratic method is a teaching approach in which the teacher poses questions to the students, encouraging them to think critically and reflect on their own ideas and beliefs.
  • Teaching Strategies: The methods and techniques used by educators to facilitate student learning.
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Universal Design for Learning is a framework for designing and delivering instructional materials and activities that are accessible and effective for all learners, regardless of their backgrounds, abilities, or learning styles.