The L&D
Word Project

According to Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in a field. This has since been debunked.

A model created by Bob Mosher and Conrad Gottfredson, the five moments of learning need are (1) when you learn something for the first time, (2) when you want to learn more, (3) when you try to apply and / or remember, (4) when something goes wrong, and (5) when things change.

The ADDIE framework consists of the following steps: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation, and these steps are reflected in many modern instructional design models.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the way machines and software (as opposed to living beings) learn from experiences and input and how they complete tasks based on that learning.

AICC was the original technical standard for training technology and the first used to communicate between a learning management system (LMS) and course content. It is sometimes still used for legacy reasons, but it is largely retired.

API is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other.

Augmented reality changes the real-world environment by adding computer-generated content (images, sounds, etc.) so that you can see a combined view of the content and the real-world through a device.

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a computer software program that collects resumes and assists with the hiring process for organizations.

Accessibility refers to designing products, websites, services, tools, experiences, and environments in way that makes them usable by people with temporary and permanent disabilities.

Active listening refers to going beyond just the words people say and being engaged and fully attentive, looking for context, tone, and other verbal and non-verbal clues.

Adaptive learning uses computer algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to interact with learners, and based on communication, provides them with custom resources and activities to meet their needs.

Agile refers to the ability to adapt and respond to change. In software development, it refers to incremental steps and an iterative development process that allows for changes and flexibility, which has been adopted by the learning and development community to develop learning experiences iteratively.

Analytics refers to the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of data.

A term popularized by Malcolm Knowles, andragogy refers to the theories and principles related to how self-directed, independent adults learn.

Asynchronous learning is where learners do not need to participate in the learning experience at the same time, allowing learners the flexibility to access material on their own schedule.

An authoring tool is a computer software program specifically designed to create digital course content, or eLearning, by combining multimedia elements.

An autodidact is a person who is self-taught.

Often used to describe the future of business, where climate and global systemic change are prevalent, BANI stands for brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible.

Business as usual (BAU) refers to standard and ongoing tasks and functional operations that are required to keep the business running.

Bring your own device (BYOD) refers to companies allowing employees to use their own personal devices (most commonly mobile phones and computers) for work purposes, rather than having to have multiple devices for work and personal purposes. It is also sometimes used specifically in learning contexts to describe learning experiences where learners are expected to bring their own device to participate.

Backward design is the process of identifying the goals and outcomes of a learning experience before choosing the instructional methods or assessment.

Popularized by B.F. Skinner in the learning space, behaviorism refers to the learning theory where the belief is that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning processes, often represented by a stimuli and a response.

The Big 5 is a personality test adopted by modern personality psychologists that looks at five traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Blended learning combines online learning and face-to-face instruction, often in a way that aims to maximize the benefits of each.

Named for Benjamin Bloom (an educational psychologist), Bloom's Taxonomy are three sets of hierarchical models used to create educational learning objectives in three domains: the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. The cognitive domain is the most well-known, containing the levels remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, create.

A bootcamp is a short and intense group training program.

A branching scenario is an interactive learning experience where the learner is taken through the content based on decisions they make when presented with scenarios and questions.

A brief is a short, written document that outlines objectives and plans to communicate ideas and strategies with stakeholders and gain their support.

Business partners work for the organization but act as internal consultants to leaders or managers in specific business units, providing strategic advice and support, depending on the needs of the business unit.

Buy-in is a term used in business to describe support and participation in suggestions or ideas.

Cohort-based courses are structured learning experiences where the learners go through the material at the same time, beginning and ending the course together. They are typically led by a facilitator or mentor who guides the group through the course.

Computer-based training is any instructional course that is delivered through computer.

A Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is the top-level executive of an organization in charge of human resources policies and operations.

A Chief Learning Officer (CLO) is the top-level executive of an organization in charge of learning and development policies and operations.

A content management system is software that allows users who don't have technical knowledge of web development to create, edit, and organize content for users.

Customer relationship management refers to technology used to communicate with potential and existing customers and to analyze customer data.

Borrowing from marketing, a learning campaign is when learning experiences are sent to learners over a period of time for the purposes of increasing retention and changing habits over that period of time.

Capability is the ability to do something. In learning, capability models are often created so that people can be measured against them to identify skill gaps for improvement.

A career path is the series of job positions and titles you have that help you to achieve your short-term and long-term professional goals. The positions could represent different levels in the same position or different positions.

A case study is an in-depth description of a real-world situation used to help people understand complex issues or problems.

Certification is when a learner is provided with a formal document that represents a specific achievement or passing of an assessment.

Change management involves the processes, tools, and communication that are used to guide employees through transition in their organization.

A channel is a system or method of communicating with people.

A chatbot is a software program that simulates human conversation through text or voice interactions.

Co-design is a design process where stakeholders (including clients and participants) are involved in the design and development process to ensure the learning experience meets the intended goals.

Originally coined by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, Community of Practice is defined as a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.

Coaching is where an experienced person, called a coach, provides training, advice, resources, and other guidance to clients to help them achieve a specific goal.

Cognitivism is a learning theory that states that learning happens through cognitive processes, where the learner takes in, organizes and interprets, and stores and retrieves information.

A competency is something you can do successfully and efficiently.

A competency model is a group of competencies that make up successful performance of a specific job function, role, or work setting.

Compliance training is the process of making sure employees understand the laws, regulations, and processes that apply to their roles and govern their organization.

Constructivism is a learning theory that states that learning is based on previous experience and on one's interactions with the world and with others. It centers the learner as an active participant in the learning process, rather than a passive recipient of information.

Consulting is where an expert provides advice on something, typically business matters, to a third party in exchange for payment.

Content curation is the process of gathering information relevant to a particular topic or area of interest, with the intention of adding value through the process of selecting, organizing, maintaining, and deploying items to learners.

A content library refers to the digital assets your organization owns and has stored for use. Content libraries can consist in different departments within the organization too, including sales, marketing, and learning and development.

Continuous learning refers to constantly expanding knowledge and skillsets to meet personal or professional goals.

A contractor is someone who is considered self-employed but performs a project for an organization or business, under terms of a contract, for a specific sum of money or pre-defined rate.

A course is a unit of learning.

Cross skilling refers to developing knowledge and skills from other functions or job roles to improve collaboration and versatility.

The current state is the present reality of a business or part of a business. It is common to define the current state during analysis in order to understand the gap between it and the desired future state.

A curriculum is made up of the subjects and the sequence of those subjects that, when combined, create a course or learning program.

Custom content refers to unique learning experiences created for a specific customer.

Customer education refers to the learning experiences that attract potential customers and onboard and upskill current customers.

A digital adoption platform (DAP) is a software that is layered on top of another software product, app, or website that helps guide users through tasks and provides them with information and resources as they navigate the product, app, or website they're using.

Daily active users (DAU) are the total number of users that engage in some way with a web or mobile product on a given day. In learning and development, we see this most commonly used in discussion of EdTech products, such as an LMS.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion refers to initiatives (many times training initiatives) that are designed to encourage knowledge and appreciation of differences among employees in the workplace.

Dale's Cone of Experience was an attempt by Edgar Dale to organize audiovisual learning experiences from the most concrete to the most abstract, starting with direct, purposeful experiences and ending with verbal symbols.

Data literacy the ability to read, understand, create, and communicate data in different ways and in context.

Data visualization is using a chart, diagram, or picture as a visual representation of information.

Deliberate practice involves setting a specific learning or development goal and practicing with a clear awareness of the specific components of a skill one is aiming to improve and exactly how to improve them.

The deliverable is the thing one produces after development.

The Interaction Design Foundation refers to design thinking as the non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems, and create innovative solutions to prototype and test.

In the ADDIE framework, development refers to creating and assembling learning assets that were planned in the design phase. Development can also refer to professional development, which is the continuous upskilling and training of employees so that they can be successful in their roles or achieve promotions within their organization.

Based on the 1928 DISC emotional and behavioral theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston, the DiSC personality test places people into one of four categories: dominance, influence, conscientiousness, and steadiness.

The Dick and Carey Model for Instructional Design takes a systems approach, including the steps identifying instructional goals, conducting instructional analysis, analyzing learners and contexts, writing performance objectives, developing assessment instrument, developing instructional strategy, developing and selecting instructional materials, designing and conducting formative evaluation, designing and conducting summative evaluation, and revising instruction.

Digital learning refers to any type of learning that is accompanied by the effective use of technology.

A digital native is someone who was born or brought up during the age of digital technology, who has familiarity with the internet, computers, mobile phones, and other technological devices from a young age.

Digital transformation refers to adopting digital technology throughout an organization to help improve processes and operations.

Discovery learning comes from constructivism and is an inquiry-based learning method where learners pose questions and explore their environment to gain knowledge and information with little instructional intervention from an instructor or teacher.

Distance education refers to a learning experience where the learners and their instructor are separated by physical distance and can additionally be separated by time.

Double-loop learning entails the modification of goals or decision-making rules in the light of experience. The first loop uses the goals or decision-making rules, the second loop enables their modification, hence double-loop. Double-loop learning recognizes that the way a problem is defined and solved can be a source of the problem.

Electronic performance support systems (EPSS) are computer software programs that help users perform tasks, making them more productive in their roles.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software manages day-to-day business activities and operations for core teams, such as finance, sales, supply chain, and more.

Employee experience (EX) refers to employee's feelings about their journey at an organization, from the hiring experience, to onboarding, to development and career opportunities, and more.

According to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, educational technology is the study and ethical application of theory, research, and best practices to advance knowledge as well as mediate and improve learning and performance through the strategic design, management and implementation of learning and instructional processes and resources.

Commonly used in design fields, such as UX and service design, an empathy map is a collaboratively created visualization of experiential data from customers or end users, designed to help gain insight into the way they interact with and feel about a product, service, or situation.

Employee engagement refers to the relationship between and organization and its employees. Specifically, it's how much energy and motivation employees put toward reaching organizational goals.

Enablement is the process of providing employees with the information, skills, and resources they need to be productive and efficient in their roles.

Evaluation refers to the assessments and metrics collected to assess the effectiveness of learning experiences.

Experiential learning is learning that happens through doing. Specifically, it is the reflection on the activity that makes learning experiential.

An explained video is a short video created to explain products, services, policies, or topics.

Explicit learning is an intentional learning process, where the learner is consciously aware of what they are learning and can summarize it after the learning experience.

Facilitation is the act of engaging learners during a learning experience, which often includes moderating discussions, introducing activities, answering questions, and guiding learners.

A fixed mindset is one in which people believe their qualities, skills, and abilities are innate and cannot be changed.

Flipped classroom is a model that reverses the traditional educational model where students are lectured to during class time and practice problem solving at home. In the flipped classroom model, students receive the lesson material at home and then work on problem-solving and practice during class time.

The Forgetting Curve hypothesizes the loss of memory and retention of information over time.

Formal learning is any learning experience that is intentional and guided, typically taking place either in a classroom or online designated meeting place or platform.

A formative assessment is a planned, structured assessment of student's learning during a learning experience, often used to check for understanding and progress toward learning goals so that the instructor can alter the learning experience as needed to make sure the goal is reached.

The Four Stages of Competence is a learning model that explains the psychological states that take a learner from incompetence to competence, which include unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence.

A freelancer is someone who is considered self-employed but performs work for organizations on a short-term or per-task basis, not committing themselves to any one employer long term.