Glossary
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- ABEsearch for term
- Adult Basic Education – the development of competence in adult skills, such as literacy numeracy and communications, that people need to take part fully in society
- Accreditation search for term
- A process that allows a person to get credits from a particular institution, such as a college or university for a course that they have completed
- Acquisitionsearch for term
- Learning new skills
- Active Citizenshipsearch for term
- Playing a full part in society or your community, for example, by getting involved in local issues, campaigning, volunteering, or voting
- Ad hoc search for term
- Something that is not regular or planned and happens only when necessary
- ADMsearch for term
- Area Development Management – an organisation set up by the Department of An Taoiseach that funds and oversees local development projects
- AEOAsearch for term
- Adult Education Organisers’ Association
- AGMsearch for term
- Annual General Meeting
- ALOsearch for term
- Adult Literacy Organiser
- ALOAsearch for term
- Adult Literacy Organisers’ Association
- ALSsearch for term
- Adult Literacy Service
- Analyse search for term
- A process of studying the details of something to understand or explain it
- Assessment for Learningsearch for term
- A way for you and your tutor to plan what you would like to learn and to agree what successful learning means for you
- Assessment frameworksearch for term
- A guide to knowing what stage a learner is at when they start tuition and how well they are progressing
- Assessment of Learningsearch for term
- A way to measure what you have learnt as you reach the end of a unit, a term or a year
- Attribute search for term
- A quality or characteristic that someone or something has
- Authentic Materialssearch for term
- Examples of materials that are from real life situations where you need to read, write or work with numbers
- Authentic Textssearch for term
- Examples of texts that are from real life situations where you need to read, write or work with numbers
- Autonomous Modelsearch for term
- A model that enables you to learn on your own or carry out the skills you have learnt without help
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- Baseline Datasearch for term
- Basic information gathered at the beginning of the research. It provides useful information on the research participants, for example, their age, gender, nationality or where people live.
- Benchmark search for term
- A point of reference
- Best practice search for term
- A term to describe good quality work or good working habits
- BETAsearch for term
- Basic Education Tutors’ Association – an organisation representing paid adult literacy tutors
- Brainstorming search for term
- A method of giving ideas and opinions freely within a group of people to generate new ideas about a problem
- BSAsearch for term
-
c
- CAITsearch for term
- Community Application of Information Technology Initiative
- Case Studysearch for term
- A detailed study of the development of a particular person, group or situation over a period of time. Synonyms: Case Studies
- Causal Comparative Researchsearch for term
- A type of research that describes conditions that already exist and tries to find out why they do exist.
- CDPsearch for term
- Community Development Project
- CEsearch for term
- Community Employment – a FÁS employment training programme
- CEEOAsearch for term
- Chief Executive and Education Officers’ Association – an organisation representing Chief Executive Officers and Education Officers in VECs
- CEOsearch for term
- Chief Executive Officer – the most senior management position in a VEC
- CIFsearch for term
- Construction Industry Federation – a body representing employers in the building sector
- Cognitive Apprenticeshipsearch for term
- An apprenticeship in which you learn by doing and a skilled person shows you ways of learning
- Cognitive Processessearch for term
- Skills that let you understand or make sense of the world, the skills you need to do this
- Cognitive Skillssearch for term
- Skills that let you understand or make sense of the world, the skills you need to do this
- Cohortssearch for term
- A group of people in a research study who share similar characteristics, such as age, job or where they are from.
- Collaborative Activitiessearch for term
- A group of people in a research study who share similar characteristics, such as age, job or where they are from
- Collate search for term
- A way to analyse and compare information to identify points of agreement and differences
- Community Engagementsearch for term
- Working with a community to bring about change or improve the lives of people in the community
- Community of Practicesearch for term
- A type of learning that happens when people with shared goals work together
- Comparative Assessmentsearch for term
- Compares two or more subjects to better understand them and find out what students know, understand and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences.
- Complex Capabilitiessearch for term
- Abilities to do a number of different things or very difficult things
- Compulsory Educationsearch for term
- The period of time a person must spend in school under Irish law, currently from age 6 to 16
- Conceptualisationssearch for term
- Ways by which you arrive at a concept or general idea
- Consensussearch for term
- Agreement between all members of a group on a particular subject
- Consistent search for term
- Something that happens or behaves in a similar way
- Contextualised Communicative Skillssearch for term
- Skills for speaking or writing that most suit a given situation or context
- Contextualised Literacy Practicessearch for term
- Literacy practices that are typical of or embedded in particular social practices which in turn are embedded in particular contexts
- Coping Strategiessearch for term
- Ways of dealing with difficult situations by working around a problem and coming up with a different way to approach it. Synonyms: Coping Mechanism, Coping Strategy
- Coping Strategiessearch for term
- Ways of dealing with difficult situations by working around a problem and coming up with a different way to approach it
- Critical Consciousnesssearch for term
- A popular education and social idea developed by Paulo Freire that addresses a state of understanding about the world as a result of freedom from oppression.
- CTCsearch for term
- Community Training Centre – a training unit, in different centres around Ireland, providing vocational and adult basic education skills to early school levers over 18 years of age
- Curriculasearch for term
- A set of topics that make up a teaching course
- Curriculumsearch for term
- A set of topics that make up a teaching course
- CWCsearch for term
- Community Workers Co-op
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- Data Analysissearch for term
- A way of measuring research information with the goal of highlighting useful information and suggesting conclusions and recommendations. Synonyms: Data Analyses
- Decoding Wordssearch for term
- Reading and understanding a word or piece of writing to turn it into spoken words or thoughts
- Decontextualised Skillssearch for term
- Skills such as reading and writing that some people believe can be taught or learnt in a detached way rather than as skills that are embedded in a real-world context
- Deficit Modelsearch for term
- A model of teaching and learning that sees literacy difficulties as a ‘problem’ or weakness instead of acknowledging the skills a person may have
- Demographic Characteristicsearch for term
- Something that is typical of a particular group of people, for example age, gender, nationality, education, or where people live
- DESsearch for term
- Department of Education and Science
- DETEsearch for term
- Digitally Literatesearch for term
- An ability to use computers, the internet and other digital technology
- Discourse Communitiessearch for term
- Groups of people involved in a discussion or debate who share similar thoughts and ideas
- Displaced Older Workerssearch for term
- People who are overlooked at work or removed from their job because of their age or because they lack up-to-date skills such as computer skills
- Distance education search for term
- A form of learning that takes place in a person’s home without supervision
- Double Thinksearch for term
- Believing two ideas that contradict each other, by ignoring the fact that they contradict or by applying a different set of standards to each idea
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- Educational Attainmentsearch for term
- The level of education a person has by the time they leave school
- Educational Disadvantage Committee search for term
- A Government committee devises solutions to tackle educational disadvantage
- Educational Equality Initiative search for term
- A programme funded by the National Development Plan under which different projects develop different ways of tackling educational disadvantage
- Educational Interventionssearch for term
- Approaches or actions to help people who need support with their learning
- EGSAsearch for term
- Education Guidance Service for Adults - a local, independent, voluntary organisation that aims to connect adults with learning in Northern Ireland
- Embedded Literacysearch for term
- A way of teaching literacy that combines it with other skills
- Empirical Datasearch for term
- Research information based on observation and experiences of the people who take part in a research study. Synonyms: Empirical, Empiricism
- Empowerment search for term
- A process of transferring power from influential people to poor communities and individuals who have been traditionally excluded from decision making
- Encoding Wordssearch for term
- Putting spoken language into a written code by spelling and writing
- ESOLsearch for term
- English for Speakers of Other Languages
- Ethos search for term
- An idea or belief of a particular person or group that guides their actions
- EUsearch for term
- European Union
- Evaluation search for term
- A process of studying something carefully to see how good or bad it is
f
- Facilitator search for term
- A person who helps a group to develop and work together effectively towards their common goal
- Family Learningsearch for term
- A way of teaching literacy that involves two or more generations of a family so that adults and children can learn from each other
- FÁSsearch for term
- Foras Áiseanna Saothair – the national training and employment authority
- FETACsearch for term
- Further Education Training Awards Council
- Focus Groupsearch for term
- Discussions between a group of people who are brought together to talk about a particular topic
- Formal Labour Marketsearch for term
- Workers in paid employment and the jobs that are available to them.
- Formal Skillssearch for term
- Skills that you have learnt in school or university or another formal training situation
- Framework search for term
- A basic structure that supports something, such as a building, and gives it its shape Generic General, not specific Guiding principles Values or rules that guide an action or decision
- FSAIsearch for term
- Food Safety Authority of Ireland – a body established by the Departmentof Health and Children to oversee food safety improvements
h
- Hegemonicsearch for term
- A situation where a group has control over a community or country and influences its ideas and values
- Holistic search for term
- A way of describing something that deals with the whole of something or someone, not just their parts
- Homogenous Groupsearch for term
- A group that is made up of the same type of people or where the members of the group do not change
i
- IBECsearch for term
- Irish Business Employers Confederation – the organisation representing all employer bodies and associations
- ICCPEsearch for term
- Irish Centre for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education
- ICTsearch for term
- Information and Communications Technology
- ICTUsearch for term
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions – the organisation representing all trade unions around the country
- Implement search for term
- A system or plan to make something happen
- Individualised Learningsearch for term
- A way of learning that is designed to suit your particular needs
- Informal Learningsearch for term
- Learning that takes places through every day life at home, work or in the community rather than a formal setting such as school
- Initial Assessmentsearch for term
- Assessment that looks at a person’s skills and level of understanding of reading, writing and working with numbers before you start learning to make sure that you learn at a level that is right for you
- Integrating Literacysearch for term
- Designing and delivering education and training programmes in a way that is effective for adults who may not be confident in literacy generally or in the specific literacy demands of a particular training or education programme
- ISCsearch for term
- Information Society Commission – responsible for developing ICT in Irish society
- ISMEsearch for term
- Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association – an organisation representing small and medium businesses
- ITUTsearch for term
- Irish Trade Union Trust
- IVEAsearch for term
- Irish Vocational Education Association – an organisation representing Vocational Education Committees
k
- Knowledge Based Societysearch for term
- A society that values knowledge and ways of creating and using information
l
- Learner Centredsearch for term
- A way of teaching that is based on the learner’s needs
- Learning Environmentsearch for term
- A place where you learn
- Library Council (An Chomhairle Leabharlanna) search for term
- An organisation set up to advise local authorities and the Government on libraries
- Literacy Audit Manualsearch for term
- A handbook to help tutors assess what literacy training is needed in a course or programme
- Local Government search for term
- Local and regional bodies, including County Councils, City Councils, Urban District Councils and Town Councils, set up by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, that provide services to local communities
- Longitudinal Studysearch for term
- Research study concerned with the development of people or groups of people over time.
m
- Mentor search for term
- An experienced person who gives help and advice to a less experienced person
- Mission statement search for term
- Mixed-method Research Studysearch for term
- Using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches in a research study.
- MLJsearch for term
- Mapping the Learning Journey - an assessment framework to support the teaching and learning process in adult basic education
- Monitor search for term
- A process of watching something carefully and recording your results
n
- NALAGsearch for term
- National Adult Literacy Advisory Group - the main stakeholders in adult literacy NALA brought together to develop a plan to help achieve the goals outlined in the White Paper
- NALCsearch for term
- National Adult Learning Council – a body established by the Department of Education and Science to oversee the implementation of the White Paper ‘Learning for Life’
- NALPsearch for term
- National Adult Literacy Programme
- NAPSsearch for term
- National Anti-Poverty Strategy – a Government plan to tackle poverty
- National Development Plan search for term
- The Government’s plan to use EU and other funds to develop the economy and to help spread resources more equally between different groups in society
- National Literacy Expert Advisory Group search for term
- A group made up of all those with an interest and input in adult literacy that oversees how the adult literacy sections of the Government White Paper are implemented
- NCCAsearch for term
- National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
- NCGEsearch for term
- National Centre for Guidance in Education
- NDPsearch for term
- National Development Plan – a Government medium-term plan for economic and social development
- Networking search for term
- A process of using social events to meet people who might be useful to you
- Non-accredited Literacy Progressionsearch for term
- Improving literacy skills without getting a qualification for it.
- NQAIsearch for term
- National Qualifications Authority of Ireland – a Government-funded body that manages qualifications at national level
- NTDIsearch for term
- National Training and Development Institute – an independent education organisation that provides courses in different centres around Ireland for disabled people
p
- Partnership search for term
- A process of two or more people or organisations working together to achieve something
- Pedagogysearch for term
- The art of being a teacher. It refers to ways of educating or a style of educating.
- Performance indicator search for term
- A way to measure whether a person or an organisation is meeting their objectives
- Plain English search for term
- A way of writing and designing material that makes it easier to read and understand
- Process search for term
- A series of actions to achieve a result Qualitative A way of describing something that refers to how good it is
- Purposive Sampling Strategysearch for term
- A way of choosing people to include in a research study. They are chosen because they have particular features or characteristics in common that fit the research aims.
q
- Qualitative Researchsearch for term
- A way of doing research that examines the life experiences of people and the meaning they attach to those experiences. For example, asking people how well they learned rather than the mark they got in an exam. Synonyms: Qualitative, Qualitative Approach
- Quality search for term
- A way of saying how good or bad something is
- Quantitative search for term
- A way of describing something that refers to how much (or how many) of it there is
- Quantitative Researchsearch for term
- A way of doing research that usually involves filling out a questionnaire. For example, it measures numbers and statistics rather than people’s experiences. Synonyms: Quantitative, Quantitative Approach
r
- Return to Education search for term
- A nine hour a week basic education programme for people on Community Employment schemes
s
- SIPTUsearch for term
- Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
- Skillnets search for term
- Skillnets is responsible for the operation of The Training Networks Programme. Skillnets facilitates an enterprise-led approach to training and development through supporting the development of flexible and effective training delivery methods amongst those enterprises that previously had difficulty in accessing or benefiting from training.
- Social cohesion search for term
- A process of bringing together economic, social, health and educational policies to help people take part in society
- Social exclusion search for term
- A process of preventing certain groups from accessing power and decision-making bodies or building up social and community networks because they are poor or they do not have enough education or life skills
- Social inclusion search for term
- A process of making sure that people who are poor or marginalised can take part in the decision making process so that they can raise their standard of living and improve their quality of life
- Social interaction search for term
- A process of talking to or doing things with other people
- Social partnership search for term
- A way of reaching agreement between the Irish Government and various social partners – employers, trade unions, farmers and community and voluntary groups – on pay, tax, working conditions and social welfare, and other economic and social issues
- Social partnership agreement search for term
- A document outlining a range of steps agreed by the Government and the social partners on economic and social issues
- Stakeholder search for term
- A person who has an interest in an organisation, a project or an issue
- Static Groupsearch for term
- A group that is made up of the same type of people or where the members of the group do not change
- Statistical Analysissearch for term
- Synonyms: Statistical Analyses
- Statutory search for term
- Something decided or controlled by law
- Strategic intent search for term
- A statement of what a person, group or organisation intends to do
t
- Teagascsearch for term
- The Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority
- Tender search for term
- An application by a person or group to do a piece of work, describing how they plan to do the work, when, and how much they will charge
- Traveller Training Centre search for term
- A local organisation that provides vocational training for adult Travellers
v
- VECsearch for term
- Vocational Education Committee a committee that manages adult and further education at county (and sometimes city) level
- VTOSsearch for term
- Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
- VTSUsearch for term
- Vocational Training Support Unit
w
- WAIsearch for term
- Web Accessibility Initiative – an international group of companies, disability representatives, universities, governments and research centres that have developed guidelines for making the Internet easier for disabled people to use
- White Paper search for term
- A document produced by the Government that outlines its future plans on a particular topic
- WITsearch for term
- Waterford Institute of Technology
- Workaroundssearch for term
- Ways of dealing with difficult situations by working around a problem and coming up with a different way to approach it
y
- Youthreach Centre search for term
- A local training unit that provides vocational and basic skills to early school leavers under 18 years of age
a
