Cyberspeak Glossary

Asynchronous: Describes interaction and communication that is delayed over time. In the e-learning context it enables learners to participate according to their own availability (but usually within a certain course schedule).

Blog: Short for weblog. A web-based personal journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Usually written in informal style. The author of a blog is often called a blogger. Many blogs syndicate their content to subscribers using RSS.

Blogger: Somebody writing a blog.

Browser: An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web. The browsers best known and most in use are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

Chat: A real-time conferencing capability between two or more users on a local network (LAN) or the Internet. The conversing is accomplished by typing on the keyboard, thus creating a ‘text chat’.

Chatroom: Webspace where interactive online discussions (by typing on a keyboard) take place. Chat rooms are set up to handle group discussions, and everyone sees what everyone else types in.

Computer based training / CBT: CBT programs are called "courseware" and provide interactive training sessions for all disciplines. Using graphics extensively, CBT was originally introduced on LaserDiscs, then CD-ROMs and, later, online. CBT courseware is typically developed with authoring languages that are designed to create interactive question/answer sessions.

Discussionboard: Also known as (Internet) Forum.

Forum: A web application that enables online discussions. The administrator (or tutor in a learning setting) will usually define several forums (or fora) which act as containers for topics or threads. Other users/learners can post replies to topics and start new ones. A forum can be flat, meaning that each reply within a certain topic is listed in chronological order; or threaded, where each post descends from a parent post.

IM: Stands for Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging: Exchanging messages in real-time between two or more people. Requires that both parties be logged onto their IM service at the same time. IM has become very popular for both business and personal use. E-mail and instant messaging are often used in a similar manner, but the advantage of IM is that there is less time-delay between messages. AOL's Instant Messenger (AIM), AOL's ICQ, Microsoft's MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger are the major services.

Learning Management System (LMS): See Virtual Learning Environment

Moodle: Open source course management system (CMS).

Open Source: Software created by a development community rather than a single vendor. Typically programmed by volunteers from many organizations, the source code of open source software is free and available to anyone who would like to use it or modify it for their own purposes.

Podcasting: Originally a term to describe the technology used to push audio content from websites down to consumers of that content, who typically listen to it on their 'iPod' other audio player that supports mp3. This technology can also be used to push any kind of file, including software updates, pictures, and videos. Podcasting uses an XML-based technology called RSS.

RSS: RSS (RDF Site Summary - formerly called Rich Site Summary; but is commonly referred to as "Really Simple Syndication') is a method of describing news or other Web content that is available for "feeding" from an online publisher to Web users. In the e-learning context sometimes used to distribute discussion forum excerpts.

Synchronous: when interaction happens simultaneously in real-time. ‘Traditional’ training where learners and tutors meet at the same time and place are the obvious example. But also happens in the e-learning context, through using various technologies like chat, instant messaging, webconferencing and application sharing.

Teleclass: Telephone conference (three or more people connected by telephone or internet call and capable of maintaining a continuous connection) with a training purpose.

Virtual Learning Environment / VLE: A software system designed to facilitate management and student involvement in e-learning. Sometimes also called Learning Management System (LMS), or Course Management System (CMS) or Managed Learning Environment (MLE).

Voice-over IP / VoIP: A term used in internet telephony for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol (IP). A major advantage of VoIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service.

Web Browser: Same as Browser

Webcasting: Term used to describe the ability to use the web to deliver live or delayed versions of sound or video broadcasts.

Webconference / Web Conferencing: Allows users, in real time, to share computer based content through the public Internet or corporate intranet, providing the ability to view another person's computer screen. Usually combined with an audio conference but incorporating newer Voiceover-IP (VoIP) audio capabilities.

Webinar: Short for web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the web. Unlike a webcast, in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience, a Webinar usually includes interactive elements, with opportunities to provide, receive and discuss information.

Weblog: Same as blog

Wiki: A server program that allows users to collaborate in forming the content of a Web site. With a wiki, any user can edit the site content, including other users' contributions, using a regular Web browser. Basically, a wiki Web site operates on a principle of collaborative trust. The term comes from the word "wikiwiki," which means "fast" in the Hawaiian language

XML: Stands for "Extensible Markup Language". Used to define documents with a standard format that can be read by any XML-compatible application. Can be used with HTML pages, but XML itself is not a markup language. Instead, it is a "metalanguage" that can be used to create markup languages for specific applications. For example, it can describe items that may be accessed when a Web page loads. XML allows you to create a database of information without having an actual database.