Glossary

Searchable glossary containing hundreds of definitions and descriptions of education terms, acronyms and abbreviations used by the LTS online service and in Scottish education.

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Dawning realism	One of five stages within a framework devised by Viktor Lowenfeld (1903-60) used to describe and categorise children’s visual art development. These five stages (Scribbler, Pre-schematic, Schematic, Dawning Realism, and Pseudo-Naturalism) are based on characteristics found in the children's art instead of the age of the child producing the piece.
DENI (Department of Education for Northern Ireland)	The Department of Education is responsible for education provision in Northern Ireland.
Denomination	A denomination is a distinct branch within a religion. It has a distinctive doctrine and leadership that unites its followers. For example, within Protestant Christianity there are various denominations such as the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Episcopalians. The term denomination is used when a group is believed to have official status, as opposed to the term "cult," which is used negatively to refer to a group which has no official status or recognition.
Dependability (of assessment)	Dependability of an assessment is the optimum relationship between its validity and its reliability.
Determined to Succeed	The Scottish Executive’s strategy for enterprise in education. It aims to help Scotland’s young people develop self-confidence, self-reliance and ambition to achieve their goals - in work and in life.
Development plan	An annual plan in which a school reaffirms its aims and objectives, reports on its audit, and outlines future action for the coming year. All Scottish state schools are now required by the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 to evaluate the quality of their provision and to make an annual development plan to improve it. Almost all schools had been engaged in development planning for several years before the promulgation of this act, following national guidance from HM Inspectorate of Education, published in How Good is our School?
DfES (Department for Education and Skills)	The DfES works in England to: give children an excellent start in education; enable young people to equip themselves with life and work skills; and encourage adults to achieve their full potential through learning.
DHT	Depute Head Teacher, who assists, and where necessary deputises for, the Head Teacher in the conduct of the school’s affairs.
Diagnostic assessment	Aims to reveal an underlying problem in learning or to find out about a learner's ways of learning, in order to help them achieve learning aims. There are many forms of published 'diagnostic tests', but, in the ordinary course of teaching, a teacher's interaction and discussion with a pupil is often the most effective basis for this process.
Differentiation (of learning)	Takes account of a range of factors that might affect individuals' learning. Depending on levels of confidence, previous experience, knowledge, and skill, pupils in a class might be set different tasks; they might receive different levels of support; or the teacher might have different expectations of their work.
Digital	A method of sending data which uses a combination of 1s and 0s (representing 'on' or 'off') to carry the information.
Digital camera	A camera that works digitally and uses computer memory instead of film to store photographs. These are becoming increasingly common in schools. Pictures can be transferred directly to your computer, where they can be stored, and manipulated in a variety of ways using programs like Photoshop. They can be edited, emailed or printed out.
Digital forums	Electronic discussion forums for like-minded people to exchange ideas, post questions, offer answers and offer help on relevant subjects. Electronic forums also provide ways of archiving (or storing) and searching for previous exchanges.
Digital incomer	Digital incomer or digital immigrant, a phrase coined by Mark Prensky, refers to those who were not born into the digital world but have, at some later point in their lives, become fascinated by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technologies.
Digital literacy	The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.
Digital native	The term digital native, coined by Mark Prensky, is applied to those students who have grown up immersed in technology, ie, surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cameras, mobile phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age.
Digital Video	Video format: video recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal. The term is often used to refer to work with digital cameras and the computer based editing video.
Dignity	To have worth, esteem or respect.
Direct discrimination	Treating someone less favourably on racial grounds.
Discrimination	Different treatment of others based solely on their membership in a socially distinct group or category, such as colour, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, or disability. Discrimination can be positive or negative. Positive discrimination is to treat someone differently to his or her benefit but to the detriment of others. Negative discrimination is to treat someone differently to his or her detriment. For more about Discrimination and to find out about positive action go to www.antiracisttoolkit.org.uk and click on Glossary.
Discussion forums	An electronic forum for like-minded people to exchange ideas, post questions, offer answers, and offer help on relevant subjects. Electronic forums also provide ways of archiving (or storing) and searching for previous exchanges.
Diversity	Variety: a variety of something such as opinion, colour, or style. Social inclusiveness: this term is often used here to mean diversity within society of colour, culture, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, urban / rural, age, faith and beliefs.
Dìonaibh Clàran	Glossary item - English definition for Gaelic term: Protect Records
DNS (Domain name system)	Domain name system is the naming service used to organise groups of computers on the internet
Dock	A place where digital cameras can be placed to allow you to connect to your computer for power and re-charging batteries. Some camera docks have the ability to print photographs.
Domain	The part of a web address that tells you about the location or nature of the site. For instance, web addresses ending in ‘.co.uk’ are UK companies, 'ac.uk' are academic institutions, '.sch.uk' are schools, those ending in '.fr' are French and so on. Non-profit organisations generally end in '.org'.
Download	Where one computer transfers data to a distant computer
DPA (Data Protection Act)	The Data Protection Act 1998 gives individuals certain rights regarding information held about them. It places obligations on those who process information (data controllers) while giving rights to those who are the subject of that data (data subjects).
Dr Kawashima's Brain Training	A video game created by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS (a hand-held ganes console). Brain Training features activities designed to help stimulate your brain and give it a workout, There are several games within the game itself.
drop-in session	A CPD event in an informal and friendly setting where participants can attend without pre-booking.
DTP	Desktop Publishing. Software programs that enable you to create newsletters, presentations, magazines and other printed documents.
DtS (Determined to Succeed)	DtS is the Scottish Government's strategy for enterprise in education. It aims to help Scotland's young people develop self-confidence, self-reliance and ambition to achieve their goals - in work and in life.
DVD	Digital Video Disk. A CD-ROM that holds a large amount of data and is often used for viewing films.
Dyslexia	Occurring at any level of intellectual ability, this causes difficulties in reading, writing and spelling. It can also cause difficulties with short-term memory, in mathematical ability, and in the ability to concentrate. According to the Dyslexia Institute, it is generally caused by differences in the processing of language-based information. Because the origins are biological it may be seen to run in families, but environmental factors may also be significant. The 1993 Education Act defined dyslexia as a Special Education Need; and it is one of several Specific Learning Difficulties. Its effects can be overcome by specialist teaching.