Accessibility A general term used to describe the degree to which a facility, program, or product is usable by as wide a group of people as possible.
Accreditation The recognition of a program or institution that maintains standards of professional practice.
Action Learning A process in which a group of people comes together more or less regularly to help each other learn from their experience. (Adapted from Dick, B. (1997)).
Related Terms: Action learning and action research Experiential learning, Cooperative learning, Problem based learning, Project based learning, Service learning.
Active Learning A process that provides opportunities for students to meaningfully talk and listen, write, read, reflect upon and interact with the content, ideas, issues, and concerns of an academic subject. (Adapted from Meyer, C., & Jones, T. B.(1993) Promoting active learning: Strategies for the college classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.P6)
Adult Learning The art and science of helping adults (androgogy) learn as [contrasted to] pedagogy as the art and science of teaching children. (Adapted from Smith, M. K. (1996; 1999) 'Andragogy', the encyclopedia of informal education)
Adventure-Based Education The use of cooperative games, initiative activities, trust activities, high impact activities, and expeditions to effect a change in thinking (including exposure to new skills and generating awareness).
Advocacy The act or process of defending, promoting and/or sustaining a cause, ideal, or proposal.
Affective An attribute of the human experience that describes feelings and/or emotions and sometimes attitudes or values. Related Terms: Outcome, Objective Affective Learning - The process by which learners gain an ability to deal in a positive way with their emotions and values. (Adapted from Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).
Related Terms: Cognitive
Alignment The effort to ensure that what teachers teach is in accord with what the curriculum says will be taught and what is assessed on official tests. (Adapted from Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)
Assessment Measurement of a learner’s performance. (Adapted from Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).
Related Terms: Evaluation, Evaluation Research, Visitor Studies
Audience A person or group of persons for whom messages and/or services are designed or delivered. Synonymous terms might include: visitors, learners, customers, users, recreationists, stakeholders, guests, buyers, consumers, clients, patrons.
Audience Research The systematic gathering of information (descriptive, psychological, contextual) about audiences or visitors.
Related Terms: Visitor Studies, Evaluation, Needs Assessment, Demand Analysis, Human Dimensions
Authority of the Resource An interpretive approach that cites the resource-based reasons for management policy when dealing with undesirable audience behaviour. (Concept originated by Colorado State University professor
George Wallace)