Online Learning Glossary – Real Meanings For Real People

Have you considered online learning as a training or educational medium for your workplace or classroom? Or are you thinking about a possible career in the design and development of online learning but not sure what all the terms mean?

When you’re new to a field, it’s important to use the right terminology so you understand what others are saying and communicate effectively about the topic. This article provides an introduction and glossary of terms related to online learning. After making this list, even I was surprised at how many terms there were!

AUDIO CONFERENCE: Audio conferencing refers to a connection between three or more locations that involves a voice-only connection. This can be done over the phone or on the computer. When the audio conference is conducted between computers over the Internet, it uses a technology known as VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).

ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING: When learners participate in an online learning course at different times, this is called asynchronous learning. This could also be referred to as eLearning or Web Based Training (WBT). Asynchronous learning allows learners to progress through a course at their own pace and on their own schedule.

BLENDED LEARNING: Blended learning is an instructional approach that includes a combination of online and in-person learning activities. For example, students can complete self-paced online assignments by a specific date and then meet on-site or online for additional learning activities.

COMPUTER BASED TRAINING (CBT): CBT refers to any type of course that runs on a computer, either on a CD, on a person’s hard drive, or on the Internet. The difference is that computer-based training does not involve a physically present instructor or facilitator. Now that most computer-based training takes place over the Internet, the term is rarely used. More common terms are Online learning, e-learning and Web-based training (WBT).

COURSE MATERIALS: Courseware refers to any instructional software provided on a computer.

distance learning or distance learning: Distance education/learning occurs when students and their teachers are in different geographic locations and the instruction is delivered on an electronic device such as a computer or mobile phone. Learning can occur in a synchronous environment, where all participants are connected at the same time, or in an asynchronous environment, where participants engage in learning at different times.

e-LEARNING: eLearning (short for electronic learning) is a generic term that refers to all types of training, education and instruction that take place on a digital medium such as a computer or mobile phone.

Hybrid learning: See blended learning.

INFORMAL LEARNING: Informal learning happens when people need to know something. They set their own learning goals and acquire knowledge, skills and information in their own way. This could be through asking questions, observing experts, practicing and conversing. It’s the kind of natural learning that humans do outside of a structured environment.

INSTRUCTION DESIGN: Instructional design involves identifying gaps in knowledge, information, and skills of a particular group of people and creating or selecting learning experiences that fill those gaps. Instructional designers base their learning decisions on cognitive psychology, instructional theory, and best practices.

INSTRUCTOR LED TRAINING (ILT): ILT typically refers to the delivery of instruction in a classroom setting where the instructor and learners are at the same time and in the same physical location.

TEACHING DESIGNER: An instructional designer practices the craft and science of instructional design. This person identifies the needs of a target group and determines the best approaches to meet the needs of the target group. This could include designing and writing online learning courses as well as writing the manuals needed for instructor-led training. Some instructional designers also create graphics and use authoring systems to create online courses.

INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA: Interactive multimedia allows learners to provide input to an online course and receive feedback as a result of the input. Input can consist of a mouse click or drag, gestures, voice commands, touching an input screen, text input, and live interactions with connected participants.

MOBILE LEARNING: Learning that takes place on a portable device such as a mobile phone that can take place anytime and anywhere.

MULTIMEDIA: Multimedia refers to the presentation of information and instructions through a combination of graphics, audio, text, or video. Multimedia teaching is often interactive.

LEARN ONLINE: The term online learning is often used interchangeably with eLearning. It is an umbrella term that encompasses any type of learning done on a computer and usually over the internet.

SELF-LEARNING LEARNING: Self-directed learning refers to the type of instruction that allows a person to control the flow of courseware. This implies that the learning environment is asynchronous.

LEARN ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Social media learning refers to the acquisition of information and skills through social technologies that enable people to collaborate, converse, provide input, create and share content. Examples of social media learning can be through online social networking platforms, blogs and microblogs (like Twitter), online talk radio, and wikis.

STREAMING MEDIA: Streaming media refers to video and audio that is downloaded from the Internet to a computer as a continuous stream of data and played when it reaches the destination computer.

SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING: When learners participate in an online learning course at the same time but at different locations, this is called synchronous learning. Synchronous learning allows learners to interact with the teacher and other participants. This is done by software that creates a virtual classroom.

VIDEO CONFERENCE: Video conferencing refers to the use of video technology (both hardware and software) to create a virtual meeting between two or more people in different physical locations. Participants can see and hear each other through this technology.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: The virtual classroom refers to a digital classroom learning environment that takes place over the internet and not in a physical classroom. It is implemented through software that allows a teacher and students to interact.

WEBINAR: A webinar is a seminar or workshop where the moderator and participants see the same screen at the same time. Typically, the webinar has an audio component that the moderator controls and features that allow attendees to chat by typing text, answering polls, raising their hands, and asking questions.

WEB-BASED TRAINING (WBT): WBT refers to all forms of digital teaching in which the learning material is presented over the Internet.

Thanks to Connie Malamed | #Online #Learning #Glossary #Real #Meanings #Real #People