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

Glossary
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Programme specification A succinct way of describing the attributes and outcomes of
a named programme of study, written to follow QAA guidelines.
Programme of study An award-bearing collection of modules or other teaching and
learning, typically running over a defined period of time (e.g. BA, M.Eng.).
Progress file Aterm given prominence by the NCIHE. Comprises a transcript, or formal
record of academic achievement and a developmental aspect enabling students to
monitor, plan and reflect on their personal development (see also PDP).
Psychomotor domain One of the major areas of learning, the learning of certain types
of skill.
QAA Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Quality Refers to acceptable standards of teaching, student learning experience and so
on in higher education.
Quality assurance An ongoing process by which an institution (programme,
department, school or faculty) monitors and confirms policies, processes and activities,
and by which quality is maintained (and developed).
Quality control Refers to the detailed checks on procedures and activities necessary
for the attainment of high quality and standards.
Quality enhancement Refers to all the activities and processes adopted to improve and
develop quality, including formative activity and dissemination of good practice.
Rationalist The belief that reason is the basis of knowledge.
Reflection Consideration, from description to analysis, of an experience, or of learning;
to enhance and improve understanding and practice.
Reflective practitioner Someone who is continually involved in the process of reflecting
on experience and is capable of continually learning from experience to the benefit of
future actions.
Reliable/Reliability (of assessment) A test which is consistent and precise in terms of
factors, such as marking, quality of test and test items. The assessment process would
generate the same result if repeated on another occasion with the same group, or if
repeated with another group of similar students.
Reusable learning objects (RLOs) Items of content (often web based) which may aid
student learning and may be reused in a variety of contexts.
Role play Aplanned learning activity where participants take on the role of individuals
representing different perspectives (e.g. a mock interview) to meet learning outcomes
related to empathy or to expose participants to a scenario in which they will have to
take part ‘for real’ in the near future.
RSS Really simple syndication. A technology used to enable people to syndicate
their web content (e.g. podcasts or blogs) so that other users can subscribe to
updates.
SAQ (structured/short answer question) Also known as modified essay questions
or short answers. SAQs test knowledge recall in a directed but non-cueing
manner.
Scaffolding Help and support of various types provided for students when they learn
new things or are struggling.