Kira uses some terms you may not have seen in other platforms. Use this glossary any time you come across a word or phrase in Kira that you'd like to double-check.
Activity
An interactive content element — like a practice question or an interactive text block — that can stand alone or be embedded within a lesson.
Similar to: In-class practice, a lab exercise, or a bell ringer
Assignment
The relationship created between a resource and a class. Whenever you assign a resource (a course, lesson, or activity) to a class, that assignment is created automatically.
Similar to: A course section
Class
The digital environment that houses a group of students — a roster — enrolled together to receive curriculum and complete assignments.
Similar to: A roster or an academic class period
Class Atlas
A dashboard that compiles class-wide performance and skills mastery, surfaces skills that students in the class are struggling with, and recommends instructional interventions.
Similar to: A class performance distribution dashboard
Course
A master curriculum container that organizes the full scope of instructional content for a subject.
Similar to: A master curriculum or course
Lesson
A smaller, cohesive block of learning content designed to be delivered within a specific instructional session or class period.
Similar to: A lesson or class session
Publishing a Resource
Making a resource available to assign to students. Whenever you create a course or lesson, you must publish it before it can be assigned — publishing confirms the resource is ready for student interaction.
Similar to: Activating or launching a course
Resource
Any instructional material you can generate in Kira, including courses, lessons, activities, and rubrics.
Similar to: Learning material or an asset
Resource Library
A centralized content hub where educators can store and organize resources — courses, lessons, activities, rubrics, and more.
Similar to: A central content repository or asset hub
Rubric
A definitive grading guide that defines scoring levels and criteria. Rubrics can be generated and modified directly within Kira.
Similar to: A grading criteria matrix
Skills
The smallest unit in Kira's curriculum hierarchy. Every standard is broken down into individual skills, and student mastery is tracked at that granular skill level.
Similar to: Skills or sub-skills
Skills Tagging
The process of tagging every activity, lesson, or assessment with skills, along with standards and a rubric. Mastery data is built from skill-level performance.
Similar to: Standard mapping or mastery tracking
Standards
The benchmark educational requirements — such as Common Core, CSTA, or state-specific standards — that form the foundational architecture of the content.
Similar to: Learning objectives or state standards
Step
A slide within a lesson.
Similar to: A slide in a slide deck, or a section of a page
Student Atlas
A dashboard that compiles individual student performance and skills mastery, surfaces skills the student is struggling with, and recommends instructional interventions.
Similar to: A student performance distribution dashboard
Unit
A high-level content container within a course that organizes multiple sequentially linked lessons.
Similar to: A course unit or chapter