Glossary A
Absolute grading system
A grading system that assigns a fixed value to each level of achievement, without taking into account individual circumstances or progress.
Academic standards
Guidelines or benchmarks that define the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students should acquire at each grade level or in a specific subject area.
Accountability
The responsibility for one’s actions or decisions, and the willingness to accept consequences for them.
Accountability measures
Establishing clear accountability measures for pursuing professional development goals.
Accountability measures for individuals and teams
Establishing clear accountability measures for individuals and teams in pursuing professional development goals.
Accreditation
The process of evaluating and certifying that an educational institution or program meets certain standards and requirements.
Accuracy
The degree to which data or information is correct or precise.
Accuracy and reliability
Ensuring that professional development efforts are conducted with accuracy and reliability.
Accuracy measures
Standards or criteria used to evaluate the accuracy and correctness of an individual’s work or performance.
Accuracy of results
Ensuring that the results of professional development efforts are accurate and reliable.
Achievability
The likelihood that professional development goals can be achieved.
Achievable targets
Realistic and attainable goals that can be reached with effort and dedication.
Achieved results
The outcomes or accomplishments that have been achieved through a program or organization’s efforts.
Achievement
The level of success or accomplishment in reaching a specific goal or objective.
Achieving goals
Successfully reaching professional development goals.
Actionable insights
Insights or information that can be used to inform decision-making or take action to improve performance or outcomes.
Actionable steps
Specific and measurable steps that can be taken to achieve professional development goals.
Action-oriented goals
Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and that require concrete actions to achieve.
Action planning
The process of developing a detailed plan of action to achieve a specific goal or objective.
Active recall
A learning technique that involves actively recalling information from memory to aid in retention and learning.
Adaptability
The ability to adjust and modify professional development goals as circumstances change.
Adaptability to change
The ability to adjust and respond effectively to new or changing situations, environments, or demands.
Adaptive learning technology
Technology that uses algorithms and data to personalize and optimize the learning experience for individuals.
Adherence to ethical principles in evaluations
Ensuring that professional development goals are evaluated in a fair and ethical manner.
Adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and policies
Ensuring that professional development goals are pursued in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
Adult learning principles
The principles and strategies that are effective in facilitating learning among adult learners, such as relevance, self-directedness, and experience-based learning.
Affective skills
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
Alignment
The process of ensuring that all aspects of a program or organization are consistent with its goals and objectives.
Alignment with learning objectives and standards
Ensuring that professional development goals are in line with established learning objectives and standards.
Alignment with organizational goals and objectives
Ensuring that professional development goals are in line with the specific goals and objectives of the organization.
Alignment with overall organizational strategy
Ensuring that professional development goals are in line with the broader goals and objectives of the organization.
Alternative hypothesis
A statement that proposes a different explanation or prediction than the null hypothesis in a statistical test.
Alternatives
Options or choices available to address a problem or situation.
Ambitious objectives
Challenging and high-reaching goals that require significant effort and dedication to achieve.
Analysis techniques
Methods used to analyze and interpret data, such as statistical analysis or qualitative analysis.
Analytical thinking
The ability to break down complex problems or situations into smaller components in order to understand and solve them.
Analytic scoring method
A method of evaluating performance that breaks down complex tasks into smaller components for evaluation.
Anchoring and adjustment heuristic
A cognitive bias where individuals rely too heavily on an initial piece of information when making decisions.
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance)
A statistical method used to compare means across multiple groups or conditions.
Aptitude criteria
Standards or criteria used to evaluate an individual’s natural abilities or potential for learning and development.
Assessment
The process of gathering and analyzing information to evaluate an individual’s knowledge, skills, or abilities.
Assessment accuracy
The degree to which an assessment measures what it is intended to measure, without error or distortion.
Assessment bias
The presence of systematic errors or inaccuracies in an assessment that can unfairly advantage or disadvantage certain individuals or groups.
Assessment Criteria
The standards or benchmarks used to evaluate performance.
Assessment data
Information collected through various methods to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of students or educators.
Assessment levels
The different levels of assessment, such as formative, summative, or diagnostic, which serve different purposes in evaluating learning.
Assessment methods
The techniques or procedures used to gather data for an assessment, such as tests, surveys, or observations.
Assessment reliability
The degree to which an assessment produces consistent and accurate results over time and across different evaluators.
Assessment timing
The point in time when an assessment is administered, which can impact the validity and reliability of the results.
Assessment tools
Instruments or methods used to evaluate an individual’s knowledge, skills, or abilities.
Attainability
The likelihood of achieving a goal or objective.
Attainable aims
Goals or objectives that are realistic and achievable.
Attentional processes
The cognitive mechanisms involved in selecting and focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
Attitude change
The process of altering one’s beliefs, feelings, or behaviors towards a particular subject or situation.
Attitude surveys
Surveys designed to measure people’s opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a particular topic or issue.
Authentic assessment
An assessment that accurately measures an individual’s skills and abilities.
Availability of internal resources
The availability of resources within an organization to support professional development.