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AICC (Aviation Industry CBT [Computer-Based Training] Committee)
AICC has created a standard bearing the same name for the development, realisation and evaluation of eLearning content.
asynchronous communication
Communication between persons that does not happen at the same time for all of them. Examples of asynchronous communication are the exchange of email or discussions in an Internet-based forum.
audio conference
During an audio conference, at least one of the participants is not present in person; however, they can hear the other participants and are heard by them. Audio conferences are a form of synchronous communication (i.e., happening at the same time for all participants).
authoring tool / authoring interface
An authoring tool, on learning management systems also called authoring interface, is a software for the creation of eLearning course content that requires little or no programming skills.
blended learning
Blended learning is the use of various learning and teaching methods to reach an instructional objective. This could, for example, be realised in a blend of eLearning and face-to-face teaching.
blog
A combination of the words "web" and "log" to form the abbreviation "blog". Long version: weblog; see entry.
CBT (computer-based training)
A CBT means that the learning content is provided offline, usually on CD-ROM.
chat
The chat(room) is a virtual space on the Internet in which users conduct synchronous communications in writing.
coffee-cup learning
What we mean is learning in little "mouthfuls", in tiny learning sequences that take just about as long as drinking a cup of coffee.
communication tools
Communication tools are technical implements that facilitate communication on the Internet, such as chats and forums, mailing lists, email, etc.
Communities of Practice (CoPs)
are formed of a group of people who have a common interest in a subject. This group collaborates and regularly shares ideas over an extended period of time, resulting in a process of social learning. The members of a CoP join voluntarily and find solutions in an work- or interest-related field.
content
Content refers to the learning material of an eLearning course. It may consist of text, images, animations, simulations, audio and video clips.
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eLearning
eLearning is media-supported and computer-facilitated learning.
evaluation
An evaluation consists of questions and other feedback methods to assess the participants’ opinions or their increased knowledge or skills before, during and after the course.
eXeLearning
eXeLearning is a freely accessible and free-of-charge application for authors to create and publish learning websites. It requires no knowledge of how to program HTML pages. The authoring tool eXeLearning is an open source software and is therefore continually being developed and modified.
feedback
A feedback is the reaction to an activity, a request, a question or the result of a task that provides the learner with an idea of his performance, maybe containing suggestions for improvement. Form of assessment.
face-to-face
Face-to-face means that learners and trainers are physically present at a workshop, seminar, etc., instead of conducting “virtual” communication.
forum
A forum is a discussion platform on the Internet or Intranet where asynchronous messages can be posted. The participants are therefore independent regarding the point of time they post their message, and they can comment on previous messages.
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
This abbreviation is similarly used for the terms „Open Source Software“and „Free Software“. The term “Open Source Software” refers to software whose source code is openly accessible and modifiable (see explanations for “Open Source Software” on this page). „Free Software“ means that a software can be freely modified and redistributed to other users. F/OSS or FLOSS (for Free/Libre/Open Source Software) are further abbreviations that are used instead of FOSS.
Learning Content Management System (LCMS)
A Learning Content Management System is a database-driven server software that facilitates the creation and management of course content as well as course and participant management and user tracking. With a LCMS, content can be produced and copied to various courses, or course modules may be combined to form an entirely new course.
Learning Management System (LMS)
A Learning Management System is a software that supports the guidance and management of learning processes in eLearning. Some of the functions of LMS are: enabling or limiting access to course content, recording and monitoring the learning progress of individual learners, managing participant and tutor data. An LMS is usually accessed via Internet or organisation-owned Intranet.
LEARNTEC
Extensive fair and congress for education and information technology, primarily concerning Europe. It takes place once a year in Karlsruhe, Germany (usually in February).
learning environment
The learning environment in eLearning is the interface where the learners find their course content and the communication tools provided by the Learning Management System.
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Moodle
Moodle is a free software for the management of online courses. Moodle facilitates learner and tutor administration, controls the access to the learning content and offers discussion forums and chats. Since Moodle is an open source software, its programming code is accessible and being continually ameliorated by users. (http://www.moodle.org)
open source software
The characteristic of open source software is its freely accessible and modifiable code. Such software is non-commercial, since it can be downloaded for free from the Internet, including its source code. All users are welcome to further develop the software. Some well-known examples for open source software in eLearning are the course management system Moodle and the authoring tool eXeLearning, which facilitates the production of web learning content.
Online Educa
International eLearning-conference on technology-aided training and further education, taking place once a year in Berlin (usually in November/December).
SCORM (Sharable Courseware Object Reference Model)
SCORM defines a number of reference models that may be used in the creation of course content. Following these models, small entities or modules are created that may be recycled to form a new course.
self-organised learning
Self-organised learning happens whenever individual learners work with learning material on their own, following their private schedules.
Skype
Skype is a free program that facilitates calls and chats via Internet. (http://www.skype.com)
social software
Software systems facilitating communication, interaction and cooperation. The use of these software systems often enhance the growing of social networks and virtual communities. Today's virtual omnipresence of the Internet spurred the development of these software systems and the intensive use of applications like wikis and weblogs.
synchronous communication
Synchronous communication during eLearning takes place whenever persons communicate and exchange information at the same time, such as during chats or audio or video conferences.
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trainer
The trainer is the person who imparts knowledge in face-to-face teaching situations.
tutor
Tutors are the learners’ helpful companions in eLearning.
tutoring
Tutoring comprises all the activities of eLearning tutors, i.e., all the support they give to the learners.
video conference
Here, at least one of the participants is not physically present, but attending via camera, micophone and screen and therefore is synchronously visible and audible to the other participants and vice versa. Video conference can take place via bundled ISDN-lines or via Internet (via IP).
virtual classroom
A virtual classroom is the counterpart to school-like teaching on the Internet, using the respective software. One “teacher” meets with several “students” at the same time, but each from a remote location.
WBT (web-based training)
Self-guided learning. The learner receives the course content via Internet browser from the server of the course provider. Mostly self-study.
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 describes the new generation of web-based services. Web 2.0 sports the further development of the WWW into a mass media as it enables swapping, sharing and linking of content and knowledge. Using mostly free software such as Skype, wikis, weblogs, etc., virtual communities and social networks are created online. Communication, cooperation, interaction and exchange of content is usually initialised by the users themselves.
weblog
You can find a weblog on the Internet. Its author uses this virtual space to regularly publish his or her comments and views on a specified topic and to find an audience. Many weblogs can best be defined as digital diaries and contain entries on a special topic or even more general events from the authors' lives.
wiki, WikiWiki, WikiWeb
A wiki is a program that enables users to participate in the creation of a website's content. Via their own browsers, they publish their own content on the web and change other users' content. The best-known wiki these days is the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org).
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| A short glossary to facilitate orientation in the jungle of eLearning terms. |
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