[link to N - Z glossary terms ]

Common terms used both in online education and the Internet in general.

Click on any of the letter links in the table below to view terms beginning with that letter. Words beginning with N-Z will be displayed on a different web page.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A

Adobe Acrobat Reader: [return to top]
A Web browser plug in program (or standalone program) that allows you to view PDF (portable document format) files in their original format and appearance. Documents saved as pdf files retain all there special formatting characteristics and layout properties. If you would like to provide your students with extensive printable material you may want to investigate pdf file format. The Acrobat Reader is free and can be downloaded from Adobe.

Applet: [return to top]
A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page.

Asynchronous: [return to top]
Not at the same time. In an online context this term is generally used to describe various forms of communication in which participants do not have to be available at the same time (as opposed to synchronous). In online teaching, examples of common asynchronous communication includes threaded discussion (bulletin/conference) boards and email.

B

Bandwidth: [return to top]
Measured in Hertz (Hz). In terms of the Web it is the amount of data, usually measured in bits per second, that can be sent through a given communications channel. Bandwidth must be considered when designing Web pages as the increased requirement for bandwidth translates to increased download time for the end user. Media rich Web documents often require high bandwidth.

Bookmark: [return to top]
A feature of most Web browsers (called Favorites in Internet Explorer) that allows you to save frequently accessed web pages (URLs) in a special file that can be easily accessed.

Browser: [return to top]
A client (resides on the users machine) software program which allow htm(l) (web pages) to be viewed. Common browsers are Netscape and Internet Explorer. Browser software resides on the client (users) machine.

Bulletin Board: [return to top]
One of the many names (others include conference board and discussion board) where asynchronous text-based online communication can occur. Many bulletin boards provide the ability for users to have threaded discussions about specific topics.

C

Cache: [return to top]
Browsers such as Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer hold copies of recently visited web files in disk memory called the cache.

Caching files in memory provides for quicker loading of files than if they are always transferred from the Web. A disadvantage of caching files is that sometimes older versions of a file loads from your computer when a newer version of the file is available on the Web. This can be particularity confusing if you are making changes to your website.

Use your browser's Refresh or Reload buttons to check for more current versions of Web pages (try this before you panic).

CAI: [return to top]
Computer Assisted Instruction. This type of instruction uses the computer as a "teaching machine" that will present individual lessons.

Chat Room: [return to top]
A Chat room is a "place" where two or more individuals connected to the Internet have real-time (synchronous) conversations (usually text based) by typing messages into their computer. Groups gather to chat about various subjects. As you type, everything you type is displayed to the other members of the chat group. Some online instructors use a chat room to provide online "office hours". Students may also use a chatroom to discuss group projects or to schedule study group meetings.

Computer Conferencing: [return to top]
Interactive communication between networked computers in which data is shared. Data may take the form of audio (e.g. Firetalk meetings), text (conference/bulletin board discussions), email, video conferencing, etc. This type of conferencing can happen in "real time", which means the messages appear as they are being typed, or they can happen asynchronously with the messages being stored for later use.

Examples of Web-based computer conferencing includes threaded discussions, whiteboards, chat rooms, NetMeetings, Firetalk meetings, etc.

CGI : [return to top]
(Common Gateway Interface) A method used by WWW pages to communicate with programs run on the web server. CGI scripts are often used for interactive quizzes and data collection.

Client : [return to top]
A software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a Server software program on another computer. Each Client program is designed to work with one or more specific kinds of Server programs, and each Server requires a specific kind of Client. A Web Browser is a specific kind of Client software.

CMC: [return to top]
Computer Mediated Communication. This involves the use of computer applications that facilitate the delivery of instruction and communication such applications as e-mail, fax, WWW.

CMI: [return to top]
Computer managed instruction. The computer is used to organize and track student progress as well as keep student records. CMI is often used with CAI.

D

Desktop Publishing: [return to top]
Preparation of printed materials such as newsletters, brochures, and business cards using the computer and specific software packages such as Adobe Pagemaker and Microsoft Publisher.

Distance Education: [return to top]
Often used interchangeably with distance learning. Typically the learners and instructors are separated by time and place. Interaction must take place through some form of media, such as print (correspondence courses) or electronic (computers). Most distance education courses use a combination of media and technologies. For example, Athabasca courses rely on a combination of print and computer.

Downloading: [return to top]
Transferring a file from a distant computer to a directory on your own computer.

E

E-mail: [return to top]
Electronic mail. This is a system used to send messages from one computer to another by means of a computer network. Most will allow files or documents to be "attached" for sending with the e-mail. This is an asynchronous form of communication. It is probably the most commonly used method for distance education students to submit assignments.

Emoticon: [return to top]
Symbols used to convey emotions or humour, something which is difficult to do in text based communication. They are formed with specific keyboard characters. For a list go to Emoticons. Using emoticons may cause problems for people who are not aware of what the symbols mean, careful use of the written word may be a better way to communicate :-).

F

F2F (or f2f): [return to top]
Abbreviation for face-to-face. This describes the traditional classroom setting.

FAQ: [return to top]
A list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers.

FTP: [return to top]
File Transfer Protocol allows computer data to be transferred between computers. FTP is a special way to login to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. There are many Internet sites that have established publicly accessible repositories of material that can be obtained using FTP, by logging in using the account name anonymous, thus these sites are called anonymous FTP servers.

G

GIF: [return to top]
Graphics Interchange Format. One format for image compression. Images placed on web pages are usually in GIF or JPEG format. GIFs are generally used for images with 256 or fewer colours (line drawings, for example).

H

Home page : [return to top]
The home page is generally the first page of a web site and often acts as the information centre for the entire site. From the home page, users can navigate to other web pages within the web site. Home pages are often named "index.htm(l)" or "default.htm(l)"

HTML: [return to top]
HyperText Markup Language. A set of codes which must be used in documents to be accessed on the WWW. Without them the page would not be readable in the browser.

HTTP: [return to top]
Hypertext Transfer Protocol. This is used to indicate that an Internet site is part of the WWW. It is found in the web address. http://members.home.net/steinjm/).

Hypertext: [return to top]
Text and/or images which a user can click on to be connected to other information within the same site and/or other sites.

I

Internet: [return to top]
The largest international network of interconnected computers. This is made up of numerous smaller networks linked together by TCP/IP protocols.

Internet courses : [return to top]
Students use the Internet to participate in their coursework. Relevant information and assignments are posted to the Web by the instructor. Communication is usually by e-mail, discussion boards, chat, etc.

Internet Explorer: [return to top]
A web browser software that was developed by Microsoft.

ISP: [return to top]
Internet Service Provider. This is an organization whose business is to provide access to the Internet in some form, usually with a monetary charge attached.

J

Java: [return to top]
Java is a network-oriented programming language invented by Sun Microsystems that is specifically designed for writing programs that can be safely downloaded to your computer through the Internet and immediately run without fear of viruses or other harm to your computer or files. Using small Java programs (called "Applets"), Web pages can include functions such as animations, calculators, and other fancy tricks.

JavaScript: [return to top]
JavaScript was developed by Netscape and is a scripting language that allows one the ability to embed script into Web pages. JavaScripts can be used to add some interactive features to Web pages (an example is the roll over effect you see with the navigation buttons on this web site). JavaScript and Java are two different programming languages.

JPEG: [return to top]
Joint Photographic Experts Group. One format for image compression. Images placed on web pages are often in GIF or JPEG format. JPEG compression is generally used for photographs or pictures/graphics that use more than 256 colours.

K

kilo: [return to top]
Abbreviated "k". It means one thousand. In computer specifications it has an exact value of 1,024. It is used when talking about size of memory or hard drive storage space.

KBps: [return to top]
Kilobytes per second.

L

Link: [return to top]
An area within a website document which can be clicked on to transfer the viewer to more information within the same website or to another site.

Listserv: [return to top]
The most common kind of mail list.

Logging on: [return to top]
The process of connecting to a computer network. It usually involves the use of a password.

Lurking: [return to top]
A person is lurking if they read postings to bulletin boards but rarely if ever respond or post comments to the bulletin board themselves. This person would be analogous to the person who sits in a classroom and listens but rarely speaks.

M

Markup: [return to top]
A type of coding used in creating web documents. It is used to create the format and/or links. Common forms are HTML and SGML.

MIME: [return to top]
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. The email standard that allows you to send and receive (via email) non-text files as attachments to standard Internet mail messages. Non-text files include graphics, spreadsheets, formatted word-processor documents, sound files, etc.

If you are teaching online you will want both your email software and your student's email software set up to be MIME compliant.

Modem: [return to top]
(MOdulator, DEModulator) An electronic device that allows computers to interact by converting computer data into an audio signal which can be sent over a telephone line.

MPEG: [return to top]
Moving Picture Experts Group. A compression and storage standard for motion video.

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Have any distance education terms you'd like us to add?
Let us know. Email mdde615@home.com

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For more glossary terms check out the Distance Education Clearinghouse listing of glossaries and other links on our "Links" page.