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Adult Learning Theory - providing instruction to the adult learner. Deals with learning goals, wealth of experience and ability/desire to direct his or her own learning.
ADDIE Model
Acronym for a classic model of an instructional system design process that includes the steps Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation
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
Asynchronous Training/Learning
Learning where people are not online at the same time and interaction occur with a time delay. Examples are email, discussion groups, and self-paced courses delivered via Internet or DVD-ROM. Typically most of online tutorials.
Authoring
Similar to "programming", developers assemble discrete media components using a tool called an authoring system.
B
Beta Test
An important function of quality control and one of the last steps before release of an software product. Beta testing involves the use of a product by selected users to create a formal documentation of content errors, software bugs, usability, level of engagement, and other factors.
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.
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.
Broadband
Typically refers to an internet connection via a cable modem or DSL line with speeds 1 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s. We need that for rich-media elearning
C
Classroom Training
Any training conducted where the students and facilitator interact in a real, physical classroom. Unlike "Instructor-led Training (ILT)" which, although there is an instructor, could still take place over an Internet connection.
Collaborative tools
Learning through the exchange and sharing of information and opinions among a peer group. Computers excel in mediating collaborative learning for geographically dispersed groups.
Cost Avoidance
Component of analyzing competing business alternatives based on reducing or eliminating costs, such as student travel and instructor fees. Return-on-investment studies take account of cost avoidance in calculating final returns.
Cost-benefit Analysis
Method of analyzing competing business alternatives based on comparing total costs to total benefits. A proper cost-benefit analysis takes into account all benefits, including productivity, savings, and motivation, and weighs them against all costs, including expenditures, overheads, and lost opportunities.
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.
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.
Curriculum
A series of related courses.
Cyberspace
Jargon referring to the Internet, or the World Wide Web. The name of the site uses this word.
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
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.
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.
Distance Education
education designed for delivery where students and instructors 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.
E
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
Electronic Performance Support System
A program that provides on demand assistance on a discrete task. Considered to be a support tool or job aid. A good example of an EPSS is the built in help functions of many software programs
Expert System
An artificial intelligence program in which a decision tree is created based on an experts decision criteria.
F
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.
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
Graphical User Interface
A way of representing the functions, features and contents of a program to a user by way of visual elements, such as icons, as opposed to textual elements, such as words and character strings. The Microsoft Windows operating system is the classic example of a program with a GUI.
H
Haptics
The science of applying touch (tactile) sensation and control to interaction with computer applications. Used in conjunction with virtual 3D environments. Future tool of elearning (already starting to emerge, pushed by the gaming industry).
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
The standard programming language for web documents meant to be accessed by browsers.
I
Information Architecture
The organization and categorization of online content. The rules and structure of where and how to store content. Especially relevant for knowledge management programs and corporate intranets where users must be able to quickly find desired information.
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
The global network of regional and local computer networks.
Intranet
an internal computer network owned by a company or organization and accessible only to designated staff.
Instructional Designer
The person who applies instructional learning theory to the organization and design of learning programs
J
Java
A programming language invented by Sun Microsystems that is intended to be operational on any hardware/software system
Just In Time
term to describe the benefit of e-learning's accessibility. No longer one has to enroll in, and wait for, a classroom training program.
K
KIRKPATRICK
Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model refers to the four step training evaluation methodology developed by Donald Kirkpatrick in 1975. Level 1 refers to the students to reaction to the training (derisively called "smile sheets"). Level 2 refers to the measurement of actual learning (ie, knowledge transfer). Level 3 measures behavior change. Level four measures business results.
L
Listserv
an automatic email service that users subscribe to in order to receive future mailings. Users must be a member of the list to receive mail, and can choose to unsubscribe at any time.
Learning Management System
A program that manages the administration of training. Typically includes functionality for course catalogs, launching courses, registering students, tracking student progress and assessments. Learning Content Management System (LCMS)
Local Area Network (LAN)
A network of computers in a confined area, such as a room or a building. A LAN accessed with internet technologies can be considered an intranet. Typically LAN's operate at what is considered to be a high bandwidth speed.
M
m-Learning
Stands for "mobile learning" and refers to the usage of training programs on wireless devices like cell phones, PDAs, or other such devices. See article about medical m-learning at www.ovidiuciobanu.ro
N
O
Offline
Operation of a computer while not connected to a network.
Online
Operation of a computer while connected to a network.
Online Learning
general term used to describe any education or training that occurs online.
Operating System
A computer program that controls the components of a computer system and facilitates the operation of applications. Windows Me, Windows XP, Linux, and MacOS are common operating systems.
P
PDF
Refers to the Adobe Acrobat file format for online documents.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
A small, handheld computer currently limited in functionality (e.g., calendar, rolodex, to do list). PDA's are expanding in their capabilities to include wireless e-mail and Internet access, thus opening opportunities for mobile learning and support (m-learning).
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
web site that is a major starting point or gateway to additional information on the Internet
R
Rich content
High quality course or web page material, often presented using advanced or sophisticated 3D design techniques employed to better explain and emphasize the message or learning. also called Rich-media content.
Reusable Content
A specific chunk of content or code that represents an assessment, exercise, instructional content, that can be used in many different courses
S
Self-paced learning
learning that is done asynchronously, such as from a DVD or over the Internet without an instructor, where the user controls the flow of course material.
SCORM
Acronym for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. SCORM is a series of e-learning standards that specify ways to catalog, launch and track course objects.
Simulation
A mode of instruction that relies on a representation in
Streaming
a technique where media (audio, video, or both) are downloaded to the user's computer in a continuous stream and played upon arrival.
Storyboard
A collection of frames created by a developer that detail the sequence of scenes that will be represented to the user; a visual script.
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. (chat session is a form of synchronous training, web-casts of live events, webinars)
T
Technology-based Training
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.
U
Ubiquitous learning refers to “everywhere learning” (the internet or learning content follows people around). Core “knowledge pots” (work-related content, personal knowledge, internet) hold content and information. Various devices plug in and retrieve the information in the appropriate format (PDA, cell phone, laptop, or any other appliance). Ubiquitous learning fulfills elearning’s promise of “anytime, anywhere, and any context”.
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.
URL (uniform resource locator)
The address used to identify a page or file on the Internet.
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 compute
V
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
World Wide Web
The most popular component of the Internet which can be accessed with browser software
Z
Zip file
A file that has been reduced in size to allow faster transferring between computers, or to save storage space. Originated with PKWARE, the technique is widely used and the term is used frequently to describe any compressed file. Some compressed files have the .EXE extension, indicating the file is self-extracting.
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