abstract A paragraph-length summary of the methods and major findings of an article in a scholarly journal.

abstract conceptualization A learner’s ability to integrate observations into logically sound theories. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

academic freedom The virtually unlimited freedom of speech and inquiry granted to professors to further the advancement of knowledge as long as human lives, rights, and privacy are not violated.

accommodators Individuals who prefer hands-on learning. They are skilled at making things happen, rely on their intuition, and might use trial and error rather than logic, to solve problems. Accommodators often major in business. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

acronyms A memory device created by forming new words from the first letters of several words.

acrostics A verse in which certain letters of each word or line form a message.

active experimentation A learner’s ability to make decisions, solve problems, and test what he or she has learned in new situations; one of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

active learning Learning by participation, such as listening critically, discussing what you are learning, and writing about it.

adaptability The ability to adjust your thinking and behavior when faced with new or unexpected situations.

analysis The process of breaking down material into its parts so that you can understand its structure. Analysis includes categorizing, comparing, contrasting, and questioning. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

annotate To add critical or explanatory margin notes on a page as you read.

aptitude Natural talent or an ability an individual has acquired through life experience, study, or training.

application The process of using what you have learned, such as rules and methods, in new situations. Application includes choosing, illustrating, practicing, and interpreting. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

argument Reason and evidence brought together in logical support of a claim.

assertiveness Standing up for yourself when you need to without being too aggressive.

assimilators Individuals who like to develop theories and think about abstract concepts. Assimilators often major in math, physics, or chemistry. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) A disorder characterized by difficulty organizing tasks, completing work, and listening to and following directions.

aural learner A person who prefers to learn by listening to information. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.

autonomy Self-direction or independence. College students usually have more autonomy than they did in high school.

behavioral interview An interview in which the interviewer questions the candidate about past experiences and how they helped the candidate learn and grow. This type of interview helps assess skills and behaviors.

bias The tendency to hold a certain perspective when there are valid alternatives.

biorhythms The internal mechanisms that drive our daily patterns of physical, emotional, and mental activity.

bodily/kinesthetic learner An individual who prefers learning by moving around and is good at sports, dance, and acting. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

chunking A previewing method that involves making a list of terms and definitions from the reading and then dividing the terms into smaller clusters of five, seven, or nine to learn the material more effectively.

citation A source or author of certain material. When browsing the Internet for sources, use only material that has citations crediting the author, where it came from, and who posted it.

co-curricular experiences Learning that occurs outside the classroom, through on-campus clubs and groups, co-op programs, internships, or other means.

cognitive restructuring A technique of applying positive thinking and giving oneself encouraging messages rather than self-defeating negative ones.

comprehension Understanding the meaning of material. Comprehension includes classifying, describing, explaining, and translating. One of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

computer literacy Facility with electronic tools, both for conducting searches and for presenting to others what you have found and analyzed.

concrete experience Abilities that allow learners to be receptive to others and open to their feelings and specific experiences; one of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

content skills Cognitive, intellectual, or “hard” skills acquired as one gains mastery in an academic field. They include writing proficiency, computer literacy, and foreign language skills.

convergers People who enjoy the world of ideas and theories, and are good at thinking about how to apply those theories to real-world, practical situations. Convergers tend to choose health-related and engineering majors. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

cooperative (co-op) education Paid work assignments that provide students with an opportunity to use their education and apply it to the workplace. In cooperative education a term of work alternates with a term of school.

co-op programs Programs offered at many institutions that allow students to work in their field of study while enrolled in college. They offer valuable experiences and an excellent preview of what work in the chosen field is actually like. Also called cooperative education.

Cornell format A method for organizing notes in which one side of the notebook page is designated for note taking during class, and the other as a “recall” column where main ideas and important details for tests are jotted down as soon after class as is feasible.

credit score A numerical representation of your level of fiscal responsibility, derived from a credit report that contains information about all accounts in your name. This score can determine your loan qualification, interest rates, insurance rates, and sometimes employability.

critical thinking Thoughtful consideration of the information, ideas, observations, and arguments that you encounter; in essence, a search for truth.

cultural literacy Knowing what has and is going on around you.

culture The aspects of a group of people that are passed on or learned. Traditions, food, language, clothing styles, artistic expression, and beliefs are all part of culture.

database A database is an organized and searchable set of information. Like a special search engine, a database is often classified by a certain subject area, such as chemistry or U.S. history.

deep learning Understanding the why and how behind the details.

discipline An area of academic study, such as sociology, anthropology, or engineering.

discrimination The act of treating people differently because of their race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class, or other identifying characteristics rather than on their merits.

divergers Individuals who are adept at reflecting on situations from many viewpoints. They excel at brainstorming and are imaginative and people-oriented, but sometimes have difficulty making decisions. Divergers tend to major in the humanities or social sciences. One of the learner groups of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

diversity Variations in social and cultural identities among people living together.

dyslexia A widespread developmental learning disorder that can affect the ability to read, spell, or write.

emotional intelligence (EI) The ability to recognize, understand, use, and manage moods, feelings, and attitudes.

emotional self-awareness Knowing how and why you feel the way you do.

empathy Recognition and understanding of another person’s feelings, situation, or point of view.

episodic memory An aspect of long-term memory which deals with particular events, their time, and their place.

ethnicity An affiliation assigned to a specific group of people historically connected by a common national heritage or language.

explanatory writing Writing that is “published,” meaning that others can read it.

exploratory writing Writing that helps you first discover what you want to say. It is private and is used only as a series of steps toward a published work.

extraverts Individuals who are outgoing, gregarious, and talkative. They are good communicators who are quick to act and lead. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

evaluation The ability to judge the value of ideas and information you are learning according to internal or external criteria. Evaluation includes appraising, arguing, defending, and supporting. The highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

feeling types Individuals who are warm, empathetic, compassionate, and interested in the happiness of others as well as themselves. They need and value harmony and kindness. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

financial aid Monetary sources to help pay for college. Financial aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, and cooperative education.

flexibility Adapting and adjusting your emotions, viewpoints, and actions as situations change.

freewriting Writing that is temporarily unencumbered by mechanical processes, such as punctuation, grammar, spelling, context, and so forth.

gender A continuum that accounts for many different ways of identifying oneself based on the things a person says, does, or wears.

grants A form of financial aid awarded by the federal government, state governments, and institutions themselves. Students meet academic qualifications for grants by being admitted to the college and maintaining grades that are acceptable to the grant provider.

happiness Being satisfied with yourself, with others, and with your situation in general.

humanities Branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. They include the study of philosophy, religion, literature, music, and art.

impulse control Thinking carefully about potential consequences before you act and delaying gratification for the sake of achieving long-term goals.

inclusive curriculum A curriculum that offers courses that introduce students to diverse people, worldviews, and approaches.

independence Making important decisions on your own without having to get everyone’s opinion.

Information Age Our current times, characterized by the primary role of information in our economy and our lives, the need for information retrieval and information management skills, and the explosion of available information.

informational interview A meeting used to gather information on a field or company and expand one’s professional network.

information literacy The ability to find, interpret, and use information to meet your needs.

intellectual property Ownership over nonphysical creative works such as slogans, artwork, and inventions. Copyright, trademarks, and patents are kinds of intellectual property.

interdisciplinary Linking two or more academic fields of study, such as history and religion. Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach to teaching can offer a better understanding of modern society.

interpersonal Relating to the interaction between yourself and other individuals. Friendships, professional networks, and family connections are interpersonal relationships that can be mutually beneficial.

interpersonal learner An individual who likes to have many friends is good at understanding people, leading others, and mediating conflicts. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

intrapersonal Relating to how well you know and like yourself, as well as how effectively you can do the things you need to do to stay happy. Knowing yourself is necessary in order to understand others.

intrapersonal learner An individual who likes to work alone, understand themselves well, and are original thinkers. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

introverts Individuals who like quiet and privacy and who tend to think a lot and reflect carefully about a problem before taking action. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

intuitive types Individuals who are fascinated by possibilities, the meaning behind the facts, and the connections between concepts. They are often original, creative, and nontraditional. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

judging types Individuals who approach the world in a planned, orderly, and organized way. They strive for order and control, making decisions relatively quickly and easily so they can create and implement plans. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

keyword A term used to tell a search engine what you’re looking for. Keywords are synonyms, related terms, or subtopics of your search topic.

kinesthetic learner A person who prefers to learn something through experience and practice, rather than by listening or reading about it. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.

knowledge Remembering previously learned material. Knowledge includes arranging, defining, memorizing, and recognizing. The bottom level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

learning disabilities Disorders such as dyslexia that affect people’s ability to either interpret what they see and hear or connect information across different areas of the brain.

learning styles Particular ways of learning, unique to each individual. For example, one person prefers reading to understand how something works, whereas another prefers using a “hands-on” approach.

List Format A method for organizing notes which is most effective in taking notes on lists of terms and definitions, facts, or sequences. This format is effective in combination with the Cornell format, with key terms on the left and their definitions and explanations on the right.

logical/mathematical learner An individual who likes to work with numbers and is good at problem-solving and logical processes. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

long-term memory The type of memory that is used to retain information and can be described in three ways: procedural, semantic, and episodic.

mapping A preview strategy of drawing a wheel or branching structure to show relationships between main ideas and secondary ideas and how different concepts and terms fit together and help you make connections to what you already know about the subject.

marking An active reading strategy of making marks in the text by underlining, highlighting, or writing margin notes or annotations.

media literacy The ability to think critically about material distributed to a wide audience through television, film, advertising, radio, magazines, books, and the Internet.

merit scholarships Scholarships based on talent which do not require you to demonstrate financial need. Most of merit scholarships come through colleges and are part of the admissions and financial aid processes.

mind map A review sheet with words and visual elements that jog the memory to help you recall information more easily.

mnemonics Various methods or tricks to aid memory, including acronyms, acrostics, rhymes or songs, and visualization.

multiculturalism The active process of acknowledging and respecting the diverse social groups, cultures, religions, races, ethnicities, attitudes, and opinions within a community.

multimodal An individual who learns through two or more modes described by the VARK Learning Styles inventory.

multiple intelligences A theory developed by Dr. Howard Gardner based on the premise that the traditional notion of human intelligence is very limited. According to Gardner, all human beings have at least eight different types of intelligence including: verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.

musical/rhythmic learner An individual who likes to sing and play an instrument and is good at remembering melodies and noticing pitches and rhythms. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

naturalistic learner An individual who likes to be outside and is good at preservation, conservation, and organizing a living area. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

need-based scholarships Scholarships based on both a talent and financial need.

optimism Looking for the “bright side” of any problem or difficulty and being confident that things will work out for the best.

Outline Format A method for organizing notes which utilizes Roman numerals to represent key ideas and subsequently uppercase letters, then numbers, and then lowercase letters to represent the other ideas relating to each key idea.

Paragraph Format A method for organizing notes which consists of writing summary paragraphs when you are taking notes on what you are reading.

perceiving types Individuals who are flexible and can comfortably adapt to change. They tend to delay decisions to keep their options open to gather more information. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

periodical A resource that is published multiple times a year, such as a magazine.

plagiarism The act of taking another person’s idea or work and presenting it as your own. This gross academic misconduct can result in suspension or expulsion, and even the revocation of the violator’s college degree.

prejudice A preconceived judgment or opinion of someone based not on facts or knowledge, such as prejudging someone based entirely on his or her skin color.

prewriting The first stage of the writing process. It may include planning, research, and outlining.

primary sources The original research or documentation on a topic, usually referenced either at the end of a chapter or at the back of the book.

problem solving Approaching challenges step-by-step and not giving up in the face of obstacles.

procedural memory An aspect of long-term memory which refers to knowing how to do something, such as solving a mathematical problem or playing a musical instrument.

race A term that refers to biological characteristics shared by groups of people, including skin, tone, hair texture and color, and facial features.

read/write learner A person who prefers to learn information displayed as words. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.

reality testing Ensuring that your feelings are appropriate by checking against external, objective criteria.

reflective observation A learner’s ability to reflect on his or her experiences from many perspectives. One of the four stages of the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles.

revision The last stage of the writing process which involves polishing your work until it clearly explains what you want to communicate and is ready for your audience.

self-actualization Being satisfied and comfortable with what you have achieved in school, work, and your personal life;

semantic memory An aspect of long-term memory which involves remembering facts and meanings without regard to where and when you learned those things.

sensing types Individuals who are practical, factual, realistic, and down-to-earth. Relatively traditional and conventional, they can be very precise, steady, patient, and effective with routine and details. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

service learning Unpaid volunteer service that is embedded in courses across the curriculum.

sex One’s biological makeup, typically categorized as male or female.

scholarly article Articles written by experts in their fields, such as researchers, librarians, or professors, and then assessed and edited by other experts in a process called peer review.

short-term memory How many items you are able to perceive at one time. Memory that disappears in less than 30 seconds (sometimes faster) unless the items are moved to long-term memory.

social responsibility The establishment of a personal link with a group or community and cooperation with other members toward shared goals.

stacks The areas in libraries containing shelves that are full of books available for checkout.

stereotype An over-simplified set of assumptions about another person or group.

stress tolerance Recognizing the causes of stress and responding in appropriate ways; staying strong under pressure.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Classes that provide further opportunity to discuss the information presented in lectures.

syllabus A formal statement of course requirements and procedures or a course outline provided by instructors to all students on the first day of class.

synthesis The process of combining separate information and ideas to formulate a more complete understanding. Also, a level of learning on Bloom’s Taxonomy. Synthesis includes collecting, organizing, creating, and composing.

thesis statement A short statement that clearly defines the purpose of the paper.

thinking types Individuals who are logical, rational, and analytical. They reason well and tend to be critical and objective without being swayed by their own or other people’s feelings. One of the personality preferences described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

transferable skills General skills that apply to or transfer to a variety of settings. Examples include solid oral and listening abilities, leadership skills, critical thinking, and problem solving.

verbal/linguistic learner An individual who likes to read, write, and tell stories and is good at memorizing information. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

visual learner A person who prefers to learn by reading words on a printed page or by looking at pictures, charts, graphs, symbols, video, and other visual means. One of the preferences described by the VARK Learning Styles Inventory.

visualization A memory technique used to associate words, concepts, or stories with visual images.

visual/spatial learner An individual who likes to draw and play with machines and is good at puzzles and reading maps and charts. One of the eight intelligences as described by the theory of multiple intelligences.

wellness A catchall term for taking care of your mind, body, and spirit. It includes keeping fit, making healthy choices, achieving balance, and reducing stress in positive ways.

work-study award A form of federal financial aid that covers a portion of college costs in return for on-campus employment.