M
- Mnemonic
Mnemonic comes from the Greek word mnemon which means mindful. Mnemonics today are systems of principles and formulas designed to assist or improve memory or retention of new information. We are all familiar with the phrase "thirty days hath September, April, June and November..." to remember the number of days in the months – that’s a mnemonic.
Here are a couple more examples that could be used to help teach language or spelling: if you always have trouble remembering how to spell 'geography', the mnemonic 'George eats old grey rats and paints houses yellow' may be easier to remember, and notice that the first letter of each word spells 'geography'. Or if you forget which one out of 'dessert' and 'desert' is the word used for a sweet food, think of 'strawberry shortcake' which has the letter 'S' twice, as does 'dessert'.
- Mutual Recognition
The recognition and acceptance by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), of Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other RTOs, enabling individuals to receive national recognition of their achievements. Applies nationally. Note that some specific State/Territory conditions may apply. See also Skills Recognition and Recognition of Prior Learning.
- Metacognitive/Metacognition
Metacognition refers to higher order thinking which involves active control over the processes engaged in learning. Activities such as planning how to approach a given learning task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating progress toward the completion of a task are metacognitive in nature. Metacognition plays a critical role in successful learning. Metacognition enables us to be successful learners, and has been associated with intelligence. "Metacognition" is often simply defined as "thinking about thinking."
- Mind map
A mind map consists of a central word or concept, around which you draw the 5 to 10 main ideas that relate to that word. You then take each of those words and again draw main ideas that relate to each of those words, creating a kind of visual map of your thinking. A mind map is like a visual representation of a thinking process. A mind map lets you rapidly produce an almost infinite number of ideas, and at the same time organise them by placing each idea next to what it is related to. In training contexts, mind maps can be helpful to explore complex topics, identify issues or explore ideas with learners.
N
- National Centre (for) Vocational Education Research
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is Australia's principal provider of vocational education and training (VET) research and statistics.
- Needs analysis
A practical approach with the aim of gathering information to assist in identifying the needs of a project, for example, a program plan for training a target group within an organisation.
- Netiquette
A term used to describe a set of guidelines, rules or 'code of conduct' for communication in an online environment.
O
There are no definitions for the letter O.
TopP
- Performance criteria
Describes what someone must do to demonstrate competency for that element and the required level of performance.
- Personal space
Everyone has an area that is his or her own personal space - it's the "zone" immediately surrounding our body area. That feeling of someone being "in your face" is what happens when another person invades that personal space - every individual person will have a boundary where his or her personal space begins. Generally, the personal space zone is around a metre between yourself and another person.
- Plagiarism
When a piece of writing that has been copied from someone else is presented as being your own work, or taking someone else's words or ideas as if they were your own.
- Pragmatist
Practical issues and real life situations are the key for the pragmatist learner. They tend to be realistic, and like to focus on the task and the technique. They like to apply new skills and knowledge as soon as possible, but are not particularly interested in all the theory and background - pragmatists prefer to work on a 'need to know' basis. They want to get straight to the point and will probably reject any information they see as being irrelevant.
