A paradigm in simple terms is how we view the world, a system of perceptions or beliefs that influences how we understand and interpret what is happening around us. It's like glasses through which you see the world. These glasses shape your perception of what is right or wrong, how something works, or even how to make decisions.
For example, when you arrive at a new school, you have certain expectations about how everything should be organized. These expectations are your paradigm. If it suddenly turns out that classes start at 10 AM instead of 8 AM, as you are used to, your “glasses” change, and you rethink what a typical school day looks like.
So, when asked what a paradigm is, one can say that it is our framework of thinking. Sometimes, to understand something new or find a solution to a problem, we need to change or “reset” this framework, that is, change the paradigm.