Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. One-to-one (1:1)
Most commonly refers to a program where a school provides one device (e.g.
laptop, tablet, etc) per student. This is a new initiative and a lot of conflicting reports
exist citing its advantages and disadvantages. Many K-12 schools are currently
running 1:1 pilots to test this concept.
For example: Andy's school gave him an iPad to use for the entire school year as part
of their 1:1 iPad program.
2. Adaptive Learning
An educational process where the teaching methods and materials adapt to each
students' pace and level. Technology is often the vehicle for delivering this process,
since software can change exercises, questions, and content easily based on
previous answers and actions by a student.
For example: Jack is doing well with geometry, but getting a lot of algebra questions
wrong. So the app he is using increases the difficulty of the geometry questions while
presenting easier algebra questions to help him along.
3. Assistive Technology
Any piece of technology, hardware or software, that helps a person with disabilities
perform everyday tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. This can
include everything from wheelchairs to screen readers to text telephones.
For example: Isabella is hearing impaired and turns on the captions of instructional
YouTube videos to understand what is being said.
4. Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
Any communication method that helps individuals with speech and language
impairments to communicate. AAC technologies are a sub-category of assistive
technologies
and
include
text-to-speech
communicators
and
picture
communicators.
For example: Vedant has a speech impediment and uses AAC iPad apps to
communicate. In these apps, he taps on pictures of words he wants to say, and the
app says the words out loud.
5. Big Data
A collection of data sets so large that specialized technologies, techniques, and
technicians are required to process, manage, and store them. An industry has arisen
around the processing and analysis of large volumes of student data.
For example: This is a bit of a catch-all buzz term that isn't always used properly and
consistently, but you can simply think of it as "lots of information combined with
technologies that can give you useful insights."
6. Blended Learning
A teaching practice that combines, or blends, classroom and online learning. The
instruction of a lesson occurs with both teacher interaction and computing devices.
Also known as Hybrid Learning.
For example: Matias learns about algebra is from his teacher, then goes to the
computer lab to practice algebra questions using a math program.
7. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Also known as Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), this is an initiative where students
bring their own mobile devices into the classroom for class purposes, as opposed to
using school-issued devices. This is often seen as an alternative to 1:1 programs due
to lower maintenance costs, though students without devices cannot participate.
For example: Li Ting brings her Android phone to class everyday for use as a clicker
because of her school's BYOD program.
8. Classroom technology
This is the loose term used to describe both hardware and software that is used in the
classroom with the aim of improving performance and assessments of students. It has
come to describe the recent changes in networked (both fixed and cloud-based)
digital devices that are increasingly being used in education.
9. Clickers
A device or mobile app that allows students to answer a multiple-choice question.
The teacher presents a question to the class, then students use their clickers to input
their answer. Some use this as an alternative to paper quizzes.
For example: Mr. Shah asked his class a question and Pedro answered by pressing
the "A" button on his clicker device.
10. Cloud
A generic term used to represent the concept of distributed computing - where a set
of networked computers allow for shared services. Also used synonymously with the
Internet.
For example: This is a buzzword that is often used improperly and inconsistently. You
can simply think of it as another word for the public Internet.
11. Cloud Computing
Another generic term that refers to the computer hardware and software that
powers the cloud. This includes servers (a computer with specialized software on it),
data storage, applications, and more.
For example: This is another buzzword that is often used improperly and inconsistently.
You can simply think of it as "a huge collection of computers around the world that
allow me to do all the cool things that I can do on the Internet."