Glossary

Asynchronous learning – Communication exchanges occurring with elapsed time between two or more people. Examples are email, online discussion forums, message boards, blogs, podcasts, etc.

Blended course – A course that combines online and face-to-face modes of instruction.

Blended learning – Blended learning is any time a student learns at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and at least in part through online delivery with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace; often used synonymously with Hybrid Learning.

Blog – a website or a section of website used for expressing ideas and opinions of users often maintained by one editor; maintaining or adding content to an ongoing asynchronous discussion website.

Chatroom – A website or part of a website or an online service that offers communities a venue for online discussion.

Content repository – a digital content repository is an online technology for saving and sharing digital content to multiple users.

Course Management System (CMS) – The technology platform through which online courses are offered. A CMS includes software for the creation and editing of course content, communication tools, assessment tools, and other features designed to enhance access and ease of use. Drupal is an example.

Cyberbullying – Typically involves harassing, embarrassing, or threatening a young person via the Internet, email and mobile device. Generally cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking takes place between two or more adults.

Digital citizenship – Norms of behavior with regard to technology use, including the practice of netiquette, ethical and legal online behavior.

Distance education – type of educational activity in which the participants are separated in space. They may or may not be separated in time (asynchronous vs. synchronous).

Distributed learning – Any learning that allows instructor, students, and content to be located in different locations; instruction and learning occur independent of time and place; often used synonymously with the term “Distance learning”.

Face-to-face course – a traditional classroom environment where the students and the instructor meet synchronously in the same room; also referred to as “on-ground” or “on-campus” instruction.

Home-grown content – Content developed by a teacher, school, or district for use in instruction, as compared to content developed by outside companies or other vendors.

Hybrid learning – See “Blended learning”.

Instructional designer – Someone who uses the principles of learning, pedagogy, and content frameworks to create teaching materials and experiences for online courses.

Learning Management System (LMS) – The technology platform through which students’ access online courses. A LMS generally includes software for creating and editing course content, communication tools, assessment tools, and other features for managing the course. Canvas is an example.

Learning object – A digital file; or collection of files targeting a lesson objective, standard, or a lesson concept; can be used and reused for instructional purposes.

Learning object repository – A space for storing digital learning resources.

Licensed content – Content with restricted usage and only available with permission, generally for a fee.

Online course – Any course offered over the Internet.

Online learning program – An online learning program is an organized offering of courses delivered primarily over the Internet.

Online learning resources – Any digital material used for supporting student learning that is delivered in multiple delivery models.

Seat-time – The amount of instructional time needed to earn a credit and in online learning is indicated by amount of time engaged in coursework.

Self-paced – Online courses in which students work at their own pace within an overall timeframe.

Student mentor – An adult who maintains a one-to-one relationship with a student over time and provides consistent instructional support and guidance towards academic achievement.

Synchronous learning – Online learning in which the participants interact at the same time and in the same space, which could be online.

Tag (or meta-tag) – A coding statement for learning objects within a curriculum that describes the contents (using keywords, descriptive terms) enabling searches.

Teacher of record – In many online courses this is the same as the online teacher. However, it may be the person who holds a appropriate teaching certification and is responsible for certifying the final grades for the course.

Technology facilitator – This person provides training and support for technology and administrative applications.

Threaded discussion – An online forum including a running commentary of messages used by a group to facilitate asynchronous online discussions.

Universal accessibility – A requirement by law, ADA Section 508, that learning materials, including interfaces, images, sounds, multimedia elements, and all other forms of information, must be made available for use by anyone, regardless of disability.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) – A framework for the design of online learning objects and environments ensuring accessibility for all users.

Webinar – A seminar conducted over the internet; a type of web-based conference. A webinar is “live” in the sense that information is conveyed according to an agenda, with a starting and ending time.

Wiki – A restricted or open website developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to create, add and edit content.