Glossary of Terms for eLearning
S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | A - I | J - R | S - Z | Sources
S
Search Engine - The two types of search engines, the catalog and the crawler, both locate requested information on a web site or on the whole of the World Wide Web. A catalog engine compares the user request with a collection of data that it contains concerning web sites. A crawler engine scours the contents of sites themselves to find a match to a word or string of words.
Self-paced instruction - Training that enables learners to complete instructional segments on their own, without the guidance of an instructor.
Server - A networked computer that is shared by many other computers on the network. Intranets use servers to hold, or "host", web pages.
Simulation - A mode of instruction that relies on a representation in realistic form of the relevant aspects of a device, process, or situation.
Software - Computer programming code that provides a computer with instructions to perform specific tasks; a program or application.
Spam - Spam is unsolicited email. Spam is mostly sent to promote/advertise products or services.
Streaming - A technique where media (audio, video, or both) are downloaded to the user's computer in a continuous stream. Streaming cuts down on the download time required.
Synchronous Communication - Synchronous communication is direct communication where the communicators are time synchronized. This means that all parties involved in the communication are present at the same time. This includes, but is not limited to, a telephone conversation (not texting), a company board meeting, a chat room event and instant messaging. Asynchronous communication does not require that all parties involved in the communication to be present at the same time. Some examples are email messages, discussion boards, blogging, and text messaging over cell phones.
Synchronous eLearning - Communication/training that occurs at the same time between individuals. Examples of synchronous eLearning include video/audio conferencing, application/whiteboard sharing, instant messaging and live chat.
Synchronous learning - A real-time, instructor-led online learning event in which all participants are logged on at the same time and communicate directly with each other. In a virtual classroom, the instructor maintains control of the class, with the ability to "call on" participants who raise their electronic hands from a distant location. Students and teachers use a whiteboard to see work in progress and share knowledge. Content can also be delivered using audio or videoconferencing, Internet telephony, and two-way live broadcasts of lectures to students in a classroom.
T
TCP/IP - Transmission control protocol/ Internet protocol. The set of rules and formats used when transmitting data between servers and clients over the Internet.
Technology-based Training (TBT) - The term encompassing all uses of a computer in support of learning, including but not limited to tutorials, simulations, collaborative learning environments, and performance support tools. Synonyms include CBL (computer-based learning), TBL (technology-based learning), CBE (computer-based education), CBT (computer-based training), e-learning, and any number of other variations
Teleconferencing - Two-way electronic communication between two or more groups in separate locations via audio, video, and/or computer systems.
Thread - A series of public postings/messages posted in a discussion forum on the same general topic that constitute a coherent discussion. A single forum typically contains many threads covering different topics
Tutorial - A mode of instruction that presents content, checks understanding or performance, and continues on to the next relevant selection of content. Tutorials may be linear or branched.
U
Uniform Resource Locator - More commonly referred to as URL. The standard address for a web page on the Internet or on an intranet.
Upload - a file transfer from your computer to another.
Usability - An evaluation and measurement of a computer program's overall ease-of-use.
User Interface - The components of a computer system employed by a user to communicate with the computer. These include the equipment, such as a keyboard or mouse, and the software environment, such as the desktop of Windows or the program lines of DOS.
V
Video Conferencing - live video and audio communication between three or more locations.
Video - The medium of delivering information created from the recording of real events to be processed simultaneously by a learner's eyes and ears. Compare to audio, text, graphics, and animation
Virtual classroom - A simulated classroom that allows students to interact using software such as live chat, forums, desktop sharing etc.
Virtual community - An online community where people can communicate and share ideas.
Virtual Learning Environment - a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting, as distinct from a Managed Learning Environment, (MLE) where the focus is on management.
Virtual - Something that is not concrete or physical but is simulated.
VOIP - Voice over internet protocol.
W
WBT - Acronym for Web-based Training. Synonomous with e-learning.
Web based learning - Learning that is offered using either the internet or intranet.
Web based training - Education or training delivered over the Internet and accessible using a browser. WBT may incorporate the use of an instructor or facilitator.
Web conference - Refers to real time/live/synchronous meeting using web technology such as video, audio and application sharing.
Web page - An HTML file presented on the web. Web pages are accessed through their uniform resource locator (URL) e.g. www.cybermediacreations.com/multimedia/products.htm
Web portal - A central website that offers a host of internet resources or links to other sites e.g. Yahoo!
Web site - A collection of webpages that are maintained by an individual or organization. A website has a homepage (index.html) which is the point of entry site and this page is usually listed on other sites/directories e.g. www.cybermediacreations.com A website may contain several different file formats such as HTML, ASP, PHP, PDF etc.
Webcam - A digital camera attached to a computer (usually using a USB connection) which sends live video or captured images from one user to another.
Webcast - Refers to a live video broadcast over the internet using a central server.
Webinar - A small synchronous online learning event in which a presenter and audience members communicate via text chat or audio about concepts often illustrated via online slides and/or an electronic whiteboard. Webinars are often archived as well for asynchronous, on-demand access.
Whiteboard - An electronically enabled workspace or virtual dry erase board. Much like a dry erase board users can add content and mark it up. Whiteboards are excellent facilitation and learning tools used for synchronous eLearning.
Workstation - Generally workstation refers to a computer terminal or a computer.
World Wide Web - The most popular component of the Internet which can be accessed with browser software. Offers interconnected screens containing text, graphics and occasionally other types of media.
X
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Z
Zip file - a file that has been reduced in size to allow faster transferring between computers, or to save storage space. Some compressed files have the .EXE extension, indicating the file is self-extracting.