24/7
This abbreviation means twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Acronym
An acronym is a word formed by the initial letters of a phrase or title. In the online environment, acronyms are used to conserve time and space in an electronic message as well as to express humor. Examples of commonly used acronyms are: ASAP (as soon as possible), and FYI (for your information). The WorldWideWeb Acronym and Abbreviation Server maintains a database of acronyms that includes those often used in online communication.
Asynchronous Communication
Asynchronous communication occurs independent of time or location. Participants send messages to a central location (discussion forum) where they are saved for later retrieval by other participants. E-mail is an example of asynchronous communication.
Collaborative/Cooperative Learning
Collaborative or cooperative learning is the process of getting two or more students to work together to learn. Sometimes a distinction is made between the two terms based on the age of the learners: cooperative learning for K-12 education and collaborative learning for adult education.
Cookie
A cookie is a file sent to your browser, with or without your knowledge, when you visit a Web site. Your browser may save the file (cookie) on your computer’s hard drive to personalize subsequent visits to that Web site (like on My Yahoo or Excite), or to help with on-line sales/services (like on Amazon Books or Microsoft), or simply for the purposes of tracking your use of the Web site
Electronic Tools
Electronic tools include mailing lists, chat programs, streaming audio, streaming video, Web pages, etc. Electronic tools should be selected according to their added value to the course material and whether they are useful in achieving the desired outcomes for the course.
Emoticon
Also known as smileys, emoticons are keyboard characters used in combination to produce whimsical symbols representing a range of emotions. Examples are happy :-) and sad :-(. Emoticons are used in electronic communication to show humor and express emotions that are difficult to communicate with text. For a comprehensive list of emoticons, follow this link: Emoticons
Face-to-Face
This term is used to describe the traditional classroom environment. Sometimes abbreviated as F2F.
Facilitator
The online course instructor is sometimes referred to as the course facilitator.
Independent Study Courses/Home Study Courses
Independent study courses use print packages, audiocassette tapes, videotapes and other methods to provide course material and to direct students through readings and assignments. Course materials are generally sent to students through the regular mail. Students can contact their instructor by telephone or e-mail. In some courses, students may be required to attend a few classroom sessions, on-site labs, practicums or clinical experiences. Students in an independent study program usually have no formal contact with other students registered in the course. Independent study courses are sometimes called “home study” courses.
Lurking
A person is lurking when he/she reads the postings in a discussion forum but does not contribute to the discussion. It is important for online instructors and students to be somewhat accepting of lurkers since students have different learning styles and some learn better by listening. However, it is also important to encourage lurkers to become active participants in order for them to take full advantage of online learning.
Multi-Mode Courses
Multi-mode courses are delivered off-campus using a mixture of delivery modes. For example, students may receive print packages and meet weekly at designated sites for audio-conferencing with the instructor, or to view a video. Another example of a multi-mode course is one that includes online, CD-ROM and print components.
Netiquette
Netiquette is network etiquette — that is, the etiquette of cyberspace. Cyberspace has its own culture and not knowing the rules for behaving properly online might result in unintentionally offending or misunderstanding what others say or taking offense when it’s not intended. good source of information about netiquette is the Netiquette Home Page.
Off-Campus Face-to-Face Courses
Off-campus face-to-face courses are offered in the traditional classroom format in several regional college and SIAST locations throughout Saskatchewan. Classes may be held in the daytime, weekends, or during evening hours.
Online Courses
Online courses are delivered through the Internet. Course material is available online, and students communicate with the instructor and their classmates through e-mail chat groups or other tools on the Web site. Some courses may require students to attend labs, seminars, practicums or clinical experiences at a regional college, SIAST or university location. Students can use a computer at their home or workplace or they can use a computer at a regional college, SIAST or university location.
Online Environment
This term is used to describe communication that occurs in electronic format via the Internet.
Private Communication
A private communication is an electronic communication (e-mail) sent to the e-mail boxes of one or more individuals as opposed to a public conferencing forum.
Public Communication
A public communication is an electronic communication sent to a public conferencing forum, listserv, mailing list etc. where one message is distributed to all list members.
Real Time Communication
Communication occurring at the moment messages are generated is called real time communication. Real time is a characteristic of synchronous communication.
Seamless Technology
In an online course, the technology is said to be seamless (or transparent) when it is easy to use, intuitive in nature, and NOT the focus of the learning experience. If programs are difficult to use and the system has frequent breakdowns, the technology is not seamless and hinders the learning process. Technology should merely be a means to deliver course content, facilitating the learning process.
Streaming
Playing audio or video immediately as it is downloaded from the Internet, rather than storing it in a file on the receiving computer first.Streaming is accomplished by way of web browser plug-ins, which decompress and play the file in real time; a fast computer and fast connection are necessary.
Synchronous Communication
In Saskatchewan, online discussions occurring independent of location, but at the same time (real time) are called synchronous communications. Participants log into the discussion forum at the same time and messages are received the moment they are sent. This form of electronic communication is also called “chatting, and can include audio and/or video.
Synergy
Synergy is the dynamic, energetic atmosphere created in an online class when participants interact and productively communicate with each other. This atmosphere is highly conducive to learning.
Teleconferencing
Interactive communication among several people at different locations (”tele” means long distance).It may involve audioconferencing, videoconferencing, or data conferencing.
Televised Courses
Courses are broadcast on the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN). to SCN receive sites throughout Saskatchewan Students view lectures on a large screen television, and participate in interactive phone-in sessions with the instructor and other students registered in the course. Local t
utors facilitate discussion at some locations. Televised courses generally meet once a week at a specific time.
Transparent Technology - see Seamless Technology
Videoconferencing
Communication across long distances with video and audio contact that may also include graphics and data exchange. The Video Conferencing Glossary provides more (technical) definitions related to teleconferencing.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of Internet servers that support specially formatted documents. There are several applications called Web browsers that make it easy to access the World Wide Web, two of the most popular being Netscape Navigator and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The World Wide Web is synonymous with the Internet, a global network connecting millions of computers.