Online Education Glossary:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Z
A
Accreditation
The recognition or certification of an institution that has been reviewed and meets specific measures of quality.
Application
A software program that allows a user to perform specific tasks like word processing, e-mail, accounting, and database management.
Asynchronous learning
Learning where people are not online at the same time and interaction does not occur without a time delay, thus allowing people to participate on their own schedules. Examples are e-mail, discussion groups and self-paced courses delivered via Internet or CD-ROM.
Audio conferencing
Voice-only connection between three or more locations.
B
Bandwidth
The capacity of a communication channel to carry information. The greater the bandwidth, the faster the data transfer. The amount of data sent or received over any given time is limited by bandwidth.
BBS (bulletin board system)
A system maintained by a host computer for posting information, carrying on discussions, uploading and downloading files, chatting and other online services. BBS's are generally created for a specific group of users and are usually topic-specific.
Blended learning
An increasingly popular combination of online and in-person learning activities.
Broadband
A transmission channel able to carry multiple signals simultaneously.
Browser
Software for interacting with, accessing and viewing information on the Internet or created in HTML. Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the two most widely used browsers.
C
CBT (Computer-Based Training)
Training conducted using a computer, often used when referring to education or training presented while a computer is not connected to a network.
Chat
An online, real-time interactive communication method using text to send and receive instant messages.
Cookie
A small text file placed on your hard drive by a website to record information about you. When you return, your computer serves up the "cookie" to the website and previously recorded information such as your name, site login/password, preferences, shopping cart info, and more are passed along. The web page is then customized based on that information.
Courseware
Educational software that delivers course material and instruction via computer.
D
Delivery
The method of getting information to the user via Internet, CD-ROM, books, instructors and other media.
Dial-up
An Internet connection achieved through telephone lines using a modem.
Discussion forums
A place where people can exchange messages of common interest.
Distance education
Education designed for delivery where students and instructors are not in the same location.
Distance learning
Often used synonymously with distance education; distinct as an outcome of distance education.
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.
Download
A file transfer from one computer to yours.
DSL (digital subscriber line)
An Internet access method for high-speed data transfer over telephone lines.
E
E-Learning
Learning that is accomplished over the Internet, a computer network, via CD-ROM, interactive TV or satellite broadcast.
E-mail
Short for electronic mail; primarily text messages sent between two computers.
End user
The person or persons who will be using a particular technology and for whom it is designed.
F
Facilitator
An instructor who assists, directs and stimulates the learning during an online course.
File server
A computer that stores and manages files and software on a computer network, giving users the capability of sharing information and other resources.
Firewall
Specialized hardware or software designed to secure a computer or network from unauthorized access.
FTP (file transfer protocol)
An Internet protocol for transferring files between two computers. Most browsers incorporate FTP software to download and upload files.
G
GB (gigabyte)
A gigabyte is 1,000 megabytes or 1,073,741,824 characters and is roughly equivalent to a thousand novels.
GUI (graphical user interface)
A computer interface that presents information in a user-friendly way, using pictures and icons.
H
Home page
The opening page or main document that appears when you visit a website; usually contains links to other web pages.
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
Highlighted text in a web page that links the user to additional related information.
I
ILT (Instructor-led Training)
Delivery of a course in a traditional classroom setting wherein an instructor guides a group of learners.
Instructional designer
The person who develops the methodology and delivery systems for presenting course content.
Internet
The global network of regional and local computer networks.
Intranet
An internal computer network owned by a company or institution and accessible only to designated staff.
K
KB (kilobyte)
A kilobyte is 1,042 characters (bytes), roughly equivalent to one page of double-spaced text.
Knowledge management
The collection, organization, analysis and sharing of information held by workers and groups within an institution.
L
LAN (local area network)
A group of networked computers in relative proximity to one another that allows users to communicate and share information and other devices such as file servers, printers and modems.
Listserv
An automatic e-mail service that users subscribe to in order to receive future mailings. A user must be a member of the list to receive mail, and can choose to unsubscribe at any time.
Log in/on
The act of providing a user name and password to gain access to another computer, application, website or file.
Log off/out
The act of disconnecting from another computer, application, website or file.
M
MB (megabyte)
One megabyte is 1,048,576 bytes and is roughly equivalent to one novel. A floppy disk stores 1.44 MB, CDs store over 600 MB, and DVDs are capable of holding up to 17 GB (or 17,000MB) of information!
Metatag
An HTML code line that identifies the contents of the web page to search engine indexes.
Modem
MOdulator/DEModulator, a device that converts digital signals to analog for transmission, and analog signals back to digital upon reception.
Multimedia
The combination of text, graphics, audio and colors used to present information in an engaging and dynamic way.
N
Netiquette
Etiquette on the Internet, best used when sending e-mail, chatting, posting messages and using limited resources.
Network
A group of computers and peripheral devices (like printers and modems) connected to allow users to communicate and share information and resources.
Newsgroup
An information exchange forum where notes about a particular topic are posted and shared.
O
Onground
A traditional classroom instructional setting.
Online
Connected to the Internet or another computer.
Online learning
An umbrella term used to describe any education or training that occurs online.
P
Plug-in
Software programs that enhance your browser and allow it to perform additional tasks such as playing audio, displaying video and viewing documents as an integrated function of the browser.
Portal
Website that is a major starting point or gateway to additional information on the Internet, sometimes general (like Yahoo!) and sometimes specific (like World Wide Learn).
Post
Used as a noun for messages "posted" to BBS's, newsgroups, blogs, etc.
R
Real-time communication
Communication with little or no delay; synchronous interaction.
Rich content
High-quality course or web page material, often presented using advanced or sophisticated design techniques employed to emphasize the message or learning.
S
Self-paced learning
Learning that is done asynchronously, such as from CD-ROM or over the Internet without an instructor, where the user controls the flow of course material.
Server
A computer with large storage capacity that serves out files, applications and other resources.
Simulations
Interactive multimedia presentations designed to model real scenarios and which allow the user to participate and experience without risk.
SME (subject matter expert)
One who has demonstrated competency and mastery in a particular subject or topic.
Software
Computer programming code that provides a computer with instructions to perform specific tasks; a program or application.
Spam
Unsolicited e-mail.
Streaming
A technique where media (audio, video or both) are downloaded to the user's computer in a continuous stream and played upon arrival.
Synchronous learning
Learning where people are online at the same time and interaction occurs without a time delay (real-time) and which requires them to attend at specific times.
T
Teleconferencing
Video or audio conferences conducted over telecommunications channels such as telephone lines, local area networks and the Internet.
24/7/365
24 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Refers to availability of a service, product, person or information.
U
Upload
A file transfer from your computer to another.
URL (uniform resource locator)
The address used to identify a page or file on the Internet.
User interface
The components of a computer system that the operator uses to interact with the computer — the screen display, keyboard, mouse, touch controls, etc.
V
Video conferencing
Live video and audio communication between three or more locations.
Virtual
Not physical.
Virtual classroom
The area where students and instructors interact online.
Virtual community
A community on the Internet where people share common interests; an online community.
W
W3C
The World Wide Web consortium, whose mission it is to create standards and specifications for the World Wide Web.
WBT (web-based training)
Education or training delivered over the Internet and accessible using a browser. May incorporate the use of an instructor or facilitator.
Web page
An HTML file or document; part of a website.
Website
A group of related web pages that includes a home page.
WWW (World Wide Web)
As defined by the World Wide Web consortium, "The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of human knowledge." Alternatively, the web is the collection of users and resources on the Internet that use HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
Z
Zip file
A file that has been reduced in size to allow faster transferring between computers, or to save storage space.
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