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tracking

Definition of Tracking

(noun) A system that sorts students into classes by perceived ability or their achievements.

Tracking Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: track·ing

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /trAk-ing/
  • British English – /trAk-ing/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /ˈtrækɪŋ/
  • British English – /ˈtrækɪŋ/

Usage Notes

  • Plural: trackings
  • What tracks students are sorted into is often determined by standardized testing.
  • Tracking reifies inequalities by becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.
  • Detracking is the process of eliminating tracking.
  • Also called:
    • ability grouping
    • sorting
    • streaming

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Additional Information

Related Terms

Works Consulted

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Wikipedia contributors. (N.d.) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/).

Wiley. (N.d.) Wiley Online Library. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/).

Cite the Definition of Tracking

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “tracking.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved September 17, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/tracking/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

tracking. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/tracking/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “tracking.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/tracking/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“tracking.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 17 Sep. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/tracking/>.