A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Enhancing academic and Practice

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Glossary
Constructivist A number of theories attempting to explain how human beings learn.
Characterised by the idea of addition to, and amendment of, previous understanding
or knowledge. Without such change, learning is not thought to occur.
Core skills See transferable skills.
Course This term is used to refer to both smaller-sized units of study (modules) and,
confusingly, to larger units encompassing a set of modules that comprise a programme
of study (see also module and programme).
Courseware Software designed to be used in an educational programme. Refers to
programmes and data used in CAL (computer-based learning).
Creative Commons Licence A licence one can use to retain copyright over (digital)
content but which gives users levels of flexibility in how they can reproduce one’s
work.
Credit accumulation and transfer (CATS) Assigning a numerical value to a portion of
learning, based on a number of notional learning hours earning one credit point. Thus
modules may be said to be worth 30 credits and rated at level M (Masters). Used as a
currency for purposes of transfer and equivalence (see also ECTS).
Crit (critique) A form of formative and/or summative assessment widely used in art
and design. Usually conducted orally and led by the learner’s input.
Criterion-referenced assessment Judges how well a learner has performed by
comparison with predetermined criteria.
Critical incident (analysis) An event which, when reflected on, yields information
resulting in learning from experience.
Dearing Report See National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (NCIHE).
Deductive teaching/learning Working from general premises. (In language teaching,
presenting grammar rules in isolation and encouraging learners to generate specific
examples based on the rules.)
Deep approach to learning Learning which attempts to relate ideas together to
understand underpinning theory and concepts, and to make meaning out of material
under consideration (see also surface approach, strategic approach).
DIUS Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Diagnostic test A test used (possibly at the start of an undergraduate module) to
identify weaknesses (e.g. in grammatical knowledge or numeracy), with a view to
addressing these in a more focused manner.
Didactic teaching A style that is teacher centred – often prescriptive, formulaic, and
based on transmission.
Disability Discrimination Act Legislation that applies to higher education to ensure
non-discriminatory and equitable practices, for example in relation to access,
admissions and assessment of students.
Disciplinary specificity Characteristics of a discipline that affect what one can do when
teaching it; comprising socio-cultural and epistemological characteristics of the
discipline.
Distance learning Learning away from the institution, as exemplified by the
Open University. Most often students work with learning resource materials that