Key Terms

Assessment: Process of evaluating, analyzing, or reflecting upon performance, condition, or growth. The term can refer to a formal process, such as evaluating a program’s results, or an informal process such as an individual’s reflection on their competencies. Related terms: evaluation, research

Audience: People who participate in—or engage with—programs, services, or experiences. The term can refer to the people a program, service, or experience aims to serve (intended audience) or the people currently engaged (current audience). Related term: community

Community: A connected or organized group of people who share a common interest or attribute, such as geography, goals, identities, or practice. Informal STEM learning efforts often focus on engaging specific communities as part of their audience.

Competency: The ability to accomplish a desired outcome by applying skills and knowledge in a variety of situations.

Competency framework: The interconnected competencies associated with a particular area of work, such as informal STEM learning.

Evaluation: See Research and Evaluation

Evidence-based practice: Practice that is grounded in research, evaluation, and knowledge of effective and emerging practices.

Impacts: See Outcomes and Impacts

Informal learning: The broad range of ways that people learn from experiences and interactions in the context of everyday life or in designed settings, such as zoos, museums, science centers, camps, and other environments. As both a concept and a field of practice, informal learning shares commonalities with free-choice learning, lifelong learning, and out-of-school learning.

Knowledge: Awareness and understanding related to a topic or idea. Knowledge can be developed through study, experience, or other processes. Like skills, knowledge is an integral component of competencies.

Learning path: The combination of steps taken to pursue professional and personal goals. Learning paths can take many directions influenced by personal interests or opportunities, changes in the needs and interests of society, and emerging research related to an area of work.

Outcomes and Impacts: Measurable changes or benefits resulting from a particular program, service, experience, or other effort. Outcomes are generally shorter term and tangible, whereas impacts are generally longer term and broader in scope and vision.

Practice: The activities, routines, tasks, and work that professionals do to produce products, programs, services, and experiences.

Professional: Relating to work that requires specialized skills and knowledge. Professional work is typically associated with ethical standards and sometimes requires credentialing or licensing.

Professional learning and Professional development: The ways in which individuals and groups develop competencies. Professional learning generally refers to the range of ways that individuals develop the skills and knowledge they need to accomplish personal and professional goals. Professional development generally refers to the actions of an organization to design and provide structured experiences for individuals or groups. Both are most effective when strategic, deliberate, personalized, and evidence-based.

Research and Evaluation: Systematic inquiry that informs the field through the ethical collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Evaluation generally focuses on understanding and informing programs and products, whereas research tends to focus on broader questions that contribute to a field of knowledge. Related term: assessment

Skill: An ability or proficiency acquired through training or practice. Skills can be demonstrated and observed. Like knowledge, skills are integral components of competencies.

STEM: An acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These broad areas of specialized knowledge are intertwined and continually evolving. In an informal STEM learning setting, audiences may engage with each area separately or in combination with one another.