Glossary of Terms for eLearning
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | A - I | J - R | S - Z | Sources
A
Accessibility - A general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service, environment) is accessible by as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity.
Analog - a fluctuating electronic signal used for storing and transferring data. The continuous nature of analog signals makes it relatively difficult to store, manipulate, and transfer data. Analog signals are transmitted slower than digital signals.
Animation - The rapid sequential presentation of slightly differing graphics to create the illusion of motion. Animation can have greater purpose in illustrating a process than a static visual, but it requires more information to be processed by the computer and thus higher bandwidth. Compare to audio, video, text, and graphic.
Applet - A small program, that runs on the Internet or an Intranet, written in the programming language known as Java.
Application - a software program that allows a user to perform specific tasks like word processing, email, accounting, database management.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence. The range of technologies that allow computer systems to perform complex functions mirroring the workings of the human mind. Gathering and structuring knowledge, problem solving, and processing a natural language are activities possible by an artificially intelligent system.
Asynchronous eLearning - Interaction that does not take place in real time. Examples of asynchronous e-learning can include but are not limited to online learning using an eLearning course, visiting an eLearning portal, e-messaging a mentor. Asynchronous learning is extensively used because it allows the learner to access the information at their own pace and at their own convenience.
Asynchronous Learning - learning where people are not online at the same time and interaction occurs with a time delay, allowing people to participate on their schedules. Examples are email, discussion groups, and self-paced courses delivered via Internet or CD-ROM.
Audience - The intended end user population of a training product. Careful consideration of audience factors such as learning styles, level of education, preferences, background, and job responsibilities helps create more successful e-learning.
Audio Conferencing - voice-only connection between three or more locations
Audio - The medium of delivering information to be processed by a learner's ears. Compare to text, video, graphics, and animations
B
Bandwidth - The measure of amount of information that can flow through an information channel. Commonly measured in bits per second. Modem connection to an internet server is a typical example of a low-bandwidth connection; an Ethernet connection within a LAN is an example of a high-bandwidth connection
Bit - The elementary constituent of digital information, the value of which can take only the forms 0 or 1. Bits are often measured by adding prefixes to signify a value. One kilobit contains approximately 1,000 bits; one megabit contains approximately a million bits; one gigabit contains approximately one billion bits.
Bits-per-second (bps) - A measure of the speed of the information transmission over a communication line; often confused with baud.
Blended Learning - A training curriculum that combines multiple types of media. Typically, blended learning refers to a combination of classroom-based training with self-paced e-learning.
Blog / Weblog - "Blog" is short for "Web Log" and refers to short messages that are posted onto a web site by an author. Blogs are typically informal and personal messages, almost like daily diary entries. Blogging has caught on as a cheap form of knowledge sharing and expert communication. See www.blogger.com for more information.
Bluetooth - An open specification/standard for seamless wireless short-range communications of data and voice between both mobile and stationary devices. The Bluetooth standard prescribes the methods used by cellular phones, PDA’s and computer to interact.
Bookmark - An easily accessible web link stored in a web browser such as Internet Explorer
Broadband - Digital signals delivered (along with analog signals) over copper medium to businesses and households. Typically refers to an internet connection via a cable modem or DSL line with speeds 1 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s. In layperson's terms, high speed transmission of data.
Browser - Also called a Web Browser. A program used to access the text, graphic, audio, video and animation elements of the Internet and Intranets. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are the most commonly used browsers.
C
Cable Modem - A device that connects a computer to the Internet through a Cable TV coaxial cable. Cable modems are considered to be a high bandwidth, or high speed connection.
CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read Only Memory. An optical disc, recorded on and read by a laser, used to store large quantities of information. One CD-ROM has 650 Mb of storage capacity.
Central processing unit (CPU) - The CPU or processor is literally the brains of the computer. The CPU is where most of the mathematical calculation takes place. In terms of processing speed the CPU is the most important piece of hardware.
Chat or Chat Room - Text-based group communication on the Internet. Multiple users can type their questions and answers for everyone to see. This form of group communication occurs in real-time.
Collaborative Learning - Learning through the exchange and sharing of information and opinions among a peer group. Computers excel in mediating collaborative learning for geographically dispersed groups.
Community of practice - An informal group that shares knowledge in an informal and mutually respectful manner. The development of the internet has given rise to an increased number of communities of practice across disciplines and business industries.
Compact Disk Read - Only Memory (CD-ROM) - An electronic data storage medium that uses optical technology for storing and playing back audio, video, text, and other information in digital format. CD-ROM’s can hold more than 600 megabytes of read-only digital information.
Compressed file - A computer file that has been reduced in size by a compression software program. See also ZIP file.
Computer Based Education - A generic term for a computer program used by a learner to acquire knowledge or skills. See e-learning.
Computer Based Learning - A generic term for a computer program used by a learner to acquire knowledge or skills. See e-learning.
Computer Based Training - A generic term for a computer program used by a learner to acquire knowledge or skills. See e-learning.
Computer Managed Instruction - The components of e-learning that provide assessment, student tracking and personalized lesson plans.
Content - eLearning content generally goes beyond plain text and includes interactive text, graphics, audio, video and animation.
Cookie - A small file placed on a user's computer by a visited web page. Many e-learning programs will store the student's name, history, and score information in a cookie file.
Course Management System (CMS) - A computer program that facilitates computerized learning or eLearning. Such eLearning systems are sometimes also called Learning Management System (LMS), Content Management System (CMS), Learning Content Management System (LCMS), Managed Learning Environment (MLE), Learning Support System (LSS), Virtual Leaning Environment (VLE), Online Learning Centre (OLC) or Learning Platform (LP); it is education via computer-mediated communication (CMC) or Online Education.
Course Map - Usually a flow-chart or other illustration, a course map details all of the component elements of a course. Course maps often illustrate the recommended order that students should complete the training.
Course - Term used to describe the collection of elements that make up training on a given subject. Usually a course is broken up into lessons, sections, or modules but course is sometimes used interchangeably with these terms.
Courseware - Software designed specifically for use in a classroom or other educational setting, containing instructional material, educational software, or audiovisual materials. "Courseware" is a term used to describe software resources which are used for Computer-Assisted Learning (CAL). to mediate or support a course or module.
Cyberspace - Jargon referring to the Internet, or the World Wide Web.
D
Delivery Method -Term describing the way in which training is distributed to learners. Print-based workbooks, classroom, video, audio tapes, CD-ROM, and Internet are all sample delivery methods.
Design - The second step in the classic A-D-D-I-E model of Instructional System Design. The design phase builds on the analysis information and includes the formulation of a detailed plan for the instruction, known as the Design Document. Sometimes Design is broken into "high level design" for the design doc and "low level design" which culuminates in a script or storyboard.
Designer - Used to describe any member of a training project team, usually referring to creators such as writers, graphic artists, and programmers. Technically, this term should refer only to instructional designers, but it is often used synonymously with the term developer.
Developer - Used to describe a member of a training project team involved in development activities or the project team as a whole. Could refer to an instructional designer, graphic designer, writer, etc.
Development - The third step in the classic A-D-D-I-E model of Instructional System Design. The development phase follows the plans created in the design phase to create materials ready for several iterations of testing and refinement.
Dial-up - an Internet connection achieved through telephone lines using a modem.
Digital divide - Describes the gap that exists between those who can afford technology and those who cannot.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) - Refers to high speed Internet connections obtained through a special service of the phone company, using their standard telephone line.
Digital versatile disc (DVD) - A digital storage format similar to CD that holds a minimum of 4.7GB (gigabytes) and a maximum of 17 GB, enough for a full-length movie.
Digital - Opposite of analog. Computer signals, the information manipulated by a computer and transferred on the Internet, are digital. A digital signal varies by discrete values only; that is any point defined within a digital signal will have the value of either 1 or 0.
Discussion board - A general term for any online "bulletin board" where you can leave and expect to see responses to messages you have left. Forums on the Internet or an intranet where users can post messages for others to read.
Distance education - Educational situation in which the instructor and students are separated by time, location, or both. Education or training courses are delivered to remote locations via synchronous or asynchronous means of instruction, including written correspondence, text, graphics, audio and videotape, CD-ROM, online learning, audio- and videoconferencing, interactive TV, and facsimile. Distance learning does not preclude the use of the traditional classroom. The definition of distance education is broader than and entails the definition of eLearning
Distance learning - The desired outcome of distance education. The two terms are often used interchangeably. Often used synonymously with Distance Education; distinct as an outcome of Distance Education. Instruction provided by a human separated by place.
Distributed Learning - often used synonymously with Distance Learning; distinct in that it is the outcome of education that combines a blend of online and traditional delivery methods.
Domains of Learning - Three divisions used to classify types of learning: psychomotor (physical), cognitive (mental), and affective (emotional).
Download - The electronic transferring or copying of a file from one computer to another. Files may be downloaded from another connected individual computer, a computer network, a commercial online service, or the Internet.
Drill and Practice - An interactive exercise used to develop basic skills like keyboard operation. Involves the repetition of short sequences of practice, chained together to make up more complex processes.
E
E-book - Information and graphics that have been organized in electronic or computerized lessons or chapters and made available via computer.
E-Learning - Broad definition of the field of using technology to deliver learning and training programs. Typically used to describe media such as CD-ROM, Internet, Intranet, wireless and mobile learning. Some include Knowledge Management as a form of e-learning.
E-mail - Short for electronic mail. The process of one user employing a computer to send a text message to an electronic mailbox to be retrieved and viewed by another user. Also, the message itself.
Emoticons - Without face-to-face communication, many meanings in words can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. People use body language and voice inflections to communicate emotions, mood, or intention. To avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding of a specific language usage, the need for transferring emotions via the digital way (emoticons) has evolved. For example a :-) (smiley) or ;-) (wink) shows that the author is making a joke. Most instant messenger programs now have pictorial versions of the emoticons.
End user - The person or persons who will be using a particular technology and for whom it is designed.
ePortfolio - Also referred to as an electronic portfolio, or digital portfolio, an ePortfolio is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web (also called Webfolio). Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks. ePortfolio’s are both demonstrations of the user's abilities and platforms for self-expression, and, if they are online, they can be maintained dynamically over time. Some ePortfolio applications permit varying degrees of audience access, so the same portfolio might be used for multiple purposes.
F
F2F - Face-to-Face. Example: We're going to do some initial training F2F and then distribute CD-ROMs for post-work.
Facilitator - The politcally correct term for "instructor", "trainer", "teacher" or "class leader". Assuming adult learners actually obtain knowledge from their peers, in a classroom the instructor "facilitates" the learning experience.
Feedback - Can be positive or negative, is used to shape behaviors, and should closely follow an action for maximum result.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - Generally called FTP. One method of transferring files over intranets or the Internet.
Firewall - An application that isolates part of a network, like a company's private intranet, from access to or by other parts of the network, like the public Internet.
Frequently Asked Questions - Also known as FAQ. A web document made up of questions commonly asked about a particular subject or in a particular forum and the associated answers.
G
GB (gigabyte) - a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes, or 1,073,741,824 characters and is roughly equivalent to a thousand novels.
GIF - A file format, and filename extension, for graphics files for display on web pages.
Graphic - The medium of delivering static images to be interpreted by the learner visually.
H
Hard disk - A computer’s main data storage component, usually housed within the CPU. Hard disks generally hold more data and can be read faster than floppy disks.
Hardware - Physical equipment like computers, printers, and scanners.
Help Desk - A team that can be contacted by end-users for assistance with hardware and software problems.
Home page - the opening page or main document that appears when you visit a web site, usually contains links to other web pages.
Host - a computer system on a network that distributes and receives information from other computers.
Hosting - The verb describing the physical storage of a Web page or other Internet content. As in, "we are hosting our program on our in-house computers."
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - computer code used to structure text and images for viewing with a browser.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol )- an Internet application protocol used for exchanging information over the world wide web.
Hypertext - Text elements within multimedia documents, classically underlined and in colored font, that can be clicked on by the user to follow a path to a new location in a document, supplemental material like a graphic or another page on the net.
I
Icon - A simple symbol representing a complex object, process, or function. Icon-based user interfaces have the user click on onscreen buttons instead of typing commands.
Implementation - The fourth step in the classic A-D-D-I-E model of Instructional System Design. The implementation phase involves the delivery of the training to the intended audience and the use by that audience.
Instructional design - A systems approach to designing a learning experience.
Instructional designer - An individual who applies a systematic methodology based on instructional theory to create content for learning. This person develops the methodology and delivery systems for presenting course content.
Intellectual property - This concept is becoming more important with many companies’ competitive edge residing with their employee’s knowledge rather than physical assets. An example of intellectual property may be a mathematical formulae, software code or unique manufacturing process. In some cases intellectual property may be protected by law e.g. trademarks and copyrights.
Interactive multimedia - allows two-way interaction with multimedia course material, another computer, or another user with direct response to the input, as opposed to one-way communication from TV, video, and other non-responsive media. Interactive attributes commonly include data or text entry, mouse input, touch screens, voice commands, video capture, and real-time interaction.
Internet Explorer (IE) - The Internet Web browser developed by Microsoft, which is also the most commonly used browser today. Typically called just "IE". For example, "Do your students use IE or Netscape to access the web?"
Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company that providers Internet access and hosting services.
Internet - The modern network of tens of thousands of interlinked computers, evolved from the US government's ARPANET project of the 1960's. The public Internet encompasses the world wide web, the popular multimedia portion, as well as the e-mail, FTP, gopher, and other services.
Internet-based Training - The term most commonly used in the mid 1990's to describe web-based learning programs.
Intranet - A network owned by an organization that functions like the public Internet but is secure from outsider access and regulated by representatives of the organization often called system administrators