There are few things more frustrating than being in a conversation with someone who uses education buzzwords.
These are the phrases that education professionals use to make themselves sound smart, but often they don’t actually mean anything. They’re just empty words that people use to try to impress others.
We all know them. Those education buzzwords make our eyes roll back into our heads. You know the ones.
What are Educational Buzzwords?
When we talk about education, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around. Some of them are well-known, like “STEM” and “Common Core.” Others are more obscure, like “21st-century skills” and “flipped classroom. ”
But what do all these terms actually mean? In this post, we’ll break down some of the most common educational buzzwords so you can understand what they mean and how they might impact your child’s education.
They’re the terms that we hear constantly in education circles, but they don’t actually mean anything. Here are a few of the most annoying education buzzwords:
- “21st-century learning” – What does this even mean? Is it different from 20th-century learning? And if so, how? No one seems to be able to agree on a definition for this one.
- “Blended learning” – Again, what does this mean? Is it a mix of online and offline learning? Or is it something else entirely? Once again, there is no clear consensus on the meaning of this term.
- “Personalized learning” – This is another one that doesn’t seem to have a clear definition. Does it mean that each student has their own individualized curriculum? Or does it simply mean that students have some choice in what they learn? It’s hard to say for sure.
- “Differentiated instruction” – This means that teachers adapt their teaching methods to meet the needs of each individual student.
- “Gamification” – This is when learning is made into a game, to make it more fun and engaging for students.
- “Project-based learning” – This is when students learn by working on real-world projects, instead of just listening to lectures or reading texts.
- “STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math”. You’ve probably heard of STEM before – it’s become quite a popular acronym in recent years. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
The goal of STEM education is to prepare students for jobs in fields that require those skills. That means teaching kids not just the basics of each subject, but also how to apply them to real-world problems. Common Core: A set of standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics
- The “Common Core” State Standards are a set of standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics that were developed by a group of states in 2009. The standards outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. They’re designed to be rigorous yet achievable so that all students have the opportunity to succeed in college and careers.
While the standards are voluntary, many states have adopted them as their own. 21st-century skills: A set of skills necessary for success in the modern world. Many people believe that 21st-century skills are essential for success in the modern world. These skills include things like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and digital literacy.
While traditional schools still place an emphasis on rote learning, more and more educators are beginning to see the value in teaching these 21st-century skills.
- “Flipped classroom:- An instructional strategy where students watch lectures at home Flipped classrooms have become increasingly popular in recent years. This instructional strategy flips the traditional model on its head by having students watch lectures at home (usually online) and then doing activities or assignments in class.
The idea is that this will allow teachers to provide individualized attention to students since they won’t be lecturing all day. However, there is still some debate over whether or not this approach is truly effective.
What are the Jargons Used by Teachers?
When it comes to the language of education, there are a few terms that are commonly used by teachers. Here are some of the most popular jargons used:
- “Classroom management” – This term refers to the strategies and techniques used by teachers to keep their classrooms organized and running smoothly.
- “Differentiated instruction” – This is a teaching approach that takes into account the different learning needs of each student in the classroom.
- “Assessment” – Assessment is the process of measuring a student’s progress or understanding of a particular subject matter.
- “Scaffolding” – Scaffolding is a technique often used in education whereby educators provide support for students as they learn new concepts or skills. This support can be in the form of verbal explanations, visual aids, or hands-on assistance.
- “Bloom’s Taxonomy” – Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification system for educational objectives that was first proposed by educator Benjamin Bloom in 1956.
What Teachers Should Not Say to Students?
There are a few things that teachers should avoid saying to their students. Here are some examples:
- “You’re not trying hard enough” This statement can demotivate students and make them feel like they can’t succeed no matter how hard they try.
- “That’s not the right answer” This can make students feel like they’re not smart enough or that they made a mistake.
- “I’m disappointed in you” This communicates to the student that they have failed in some way and can damage their self-esteem.
- “Just do your best” While this is well-intentioned, it can put pressure on students who may already be feeling anxious about an upcoming test or assignment.
- “You’re lazy/stupid/etc” These types of personal attacks are never appropriate and will only serve to alienate and anger the student.
There are a few things that teachers should avoid saying to their students in the classroom.
- First, teachers should never say anything that could be interpreted as a personal attack or insult.
- Second, they should avoid making any comments that could be seen as discriminatory or offensive.
- Finally, they should try to refrain from saying anything that could potentially embarrass or humiliate a student.
Education Catchphrases
When it comes to education, there are a lot of catchphrases that get thrown around. Some of them are helpful, while others are not so much. Here are some of the most popular education catchphrases and what they really mean:
- “Every child is unique!” This one is definitely true! Every child learns differently and has different strengths and weaknesses.
- It’s important to remember this when working with students because what works for one might not work for another. “You’re never too old to learn!” Again, this is very true!
- Learning is a lifelong process and it’s never too late to start (or continue) learning something new. Whether you’re a student in school or an adult taking classes later in life, there’s always room for growth. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question!”
- “Questions are essential for learning“. If you don’t understand something, it’s okay to ask for clarification. Chances are, other people are wondering the same thing but are too afraid to speak up.
So don’t be afraid to ask questions – chances are you’ll be helping someone else out as well!
Education Clichés
We’ve all heard them before – the education clichés that is. From “you learn something new every day” to “there’s no such thing as a stupid question”, these sayings are so commonplace that they’re almost like background noise. But what do they really mean?
And more importantly, are they true? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular education clichés and see if there’s any truth to them.
“You learn something new every day.”
This is probably one of the most well-known education clichés out there. And it makes sense – with so much information in the world, it’s impossible to know everything. So it stands to reason that we should be constantly learning new things.
But is this always the case? Unfortunately, not necessarily. Sometimes we can go through an entire day and not learn anything new at all.
It all depends on what we’re exposed to and how open we are to learning new things. However, if we make a concerted effort to seek out new information and experiences, then chances are good that we will indeed learn something new every day.
“There’s no such thing as a stupid question.”
We’ve all been in a situation where we were afraid to ask a question because we didn’t want to look stupid. But as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a stupid question – only stupid answers. This cliché is definitely true when it comes to learning.
If we don’t ask questions, then how can we expect to understand anything? Questions show that we’re engaged and interested in what’s being taught, and more often than not, our questions will lead to even deeper understanding of the topic at hand. So next time you’re afraid to ask a question, just remember: there’s no such thing as a stupid question!
Mean Things Teachers Say to Students
It’s no secret that teachers can be tough on their students. They’re often under a lot of pressure to get their students to meet high academic standards, and sometimes that pressure can lead them to say things that they don’t mean.
Here are some of the meanest things that teachers have been known to say to their students:
“You’re not living up to your potential.” Ouch. This is a tough one to hear, especially if you’re already feeling insecure about your abilities.
But it’s also something that a lot of teachers say when they feel like their students aren’t trying hard enough. If you ever hear this from your teacher, try to take it as constructive criticism and use it as motivation to do better in school.
“This is why you’ll never amount to anything.” Again, ouch. This is probably the meanest thing that a teacher can say to a student, and it’s definitely not something that should ever be said in the heat of the moment. If a teacher says this to you, know that it’s probably not true, and try not to let it get under your skin too much.
Instead, use it as motivation to prove them wrong by doing great things with your life.
Boring Teachers
We’ve all had them. The teachers who put us to sleep with their droning lectures and lack of enthusiasm. Boring teachers are a problem because they make it hard for students to learn.
When students are bored, they’re not paying attention and they’re not retaining information. There are a few things that can make a teacher seem boring. Maybe they’re not engaging with their students or maybe they’re just not very excited about the material they’re teaching.
Either way, it’s a problem because it’s preventing students from getting the education they need. If you’re struggling in a class because the teacher is boring, there are a few things you can do.
First, try to engage with the material on your own. Read ahead or look up additional resources so that you can be interested in what’s going on even if the teacher isn’t doing a great job of presenting it.
Additionally, talk to your classmates and see if anyone else is in the same boat as you. It can be helpful to commiserate and brainstorm ways to stay engaged together.
Finally, if all else fails, talk to your guidance counselor or another trusted adult about switching classes or finding another way to get credit for the course. Boring teachers are unfortunately common, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through their classes!
Conclusion
There are a lot of education buzzwords that can be annoying, especially when you don’t know what they mean.
