z_Glossary


 * ===Glossary of key terms used=== ||
 * Adobe Connect || Adobe Acrobat Connect (formerly Macromedia Breeze) is software used to create information and general presentations, online training materials, web conferencing, learning modules, and user desktop sharing. ||
 * ADSL || Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. A high-speed transmission system using standard telephone lines. Not available in all areas of NZ until Telecom upgrades exchanges (see www.telecom.co.nz/jetstream). ||
 * aggregated services || ICT services such as computer applications, broadband access, web services, remote network management are available online and can be shared with a number of other users. ||
 * Ako Panuku || 'to learn and teach to the very best of one’s abilities' A Ministry of Education project to support Māori secondary school and wharekura teachers with particular emphasis on te reo Māori teachers. ||
 * asynchronous || Communication where interaction takes place, but not at the same time. It is accessed when the user has the time and inclination. ||
 * audio-conferencing || The linking of individuals or groups in two or more locations via telephone (possibly using a Polycom). ||
 * audio-graphics || Combination of audio-conferencing and computer-based graphics using the internet (e.g. NetMeeting) or other specialised software. ||
 * bandwidth || The rate at which data can be transmitted across a connection is determined by bandwidth. The bandwidth of an ISDN line is 64k per second for one channel. Video-conferencing requires a bandwidth of at least 256k to be reasonably reliable and fast. ||
 * blended learning || Refers to a mixing of different learning environments - online and face to face. Blended learning gives learners and teachers a potential environment to learn and teach more effectively. ||
 * BOTs || Boards of Trustees - school governance bodies. ||
 * bridge || A device which allows three or more telecommunications channels, such as phone lines and video conferencing units, to connect. ||
 * broadband || Describes the wide range of frequencies that can be transmitted and received through wire or using radio waves. Data, such as text, video or sound, can be transmitted at high speed. ||
 * cloud computing || Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand. ||
 * co-construction || Collaborative approach to learning where learners are actively engaged in building knowledge together. ||
 * cluster coordinator || A person appointed by the cluster to manage a distance learning programme within the Learning Community Online. The cluster coordinator has oversight of the technical and network requirements, is responsible for the co-ordination and standardisation of documentation and other key communications, and acts as liaison between all the key players within the cluster (e.g., principals, technical support, local school mentors, teachers) and outside networks, institutions, and individuals. ||
 * Creative Commons || A set of licenses intended to offer the consumer more freedoms than traditional copyright (sometimes abbreviated CC). ||
 * desktop VC || A set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously through the computer desktop without the need for integrated video conferencing systems. For example, Polycom PVX, CMA deskop, Skype, EVO, Vidyo. ||
 * discussion board || Or online Forum. An online means of holding discussions, usually asynchronously, but may be done in real time. Participants type text into a screen and submit it. The text is then displayed for all participants to respond to in their own time. ||
 * distance education || When students and teachers are physically separated from one another during instruction and learning periods. ||
 * distance learning || The desired outcome of distance education; the activity of the learner in a distance education. ||
 * elearning || Learning conducted with and through electronic technologies. ||
 * Elgg || Elgg is an open source social networking platform. It offers blogging, networking, community, collecting of news using feeds aggregation and file sharing features. ||
 * ePortfolio || Or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks. Often used to collect and share evidence of student learning. ||
 * e-teacher || A teacher who teaches online synchronously, asynchronously, or both. The teacher may use audio-graphics, video/audio conferencing, web-based courses, etc. ||
 * extranet || An intranet that is accessible via the internet, usually through the use of a login ID and password. ||
 * Google Docs || Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form, and data storage service offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. ||
 * home school || School where the distance education teacher is based. ||
 * intranet || An internal system of structured resources available to users of a network via a web browser. Usually not accessible to the outside world. ||
 * Learner Activity Management System (LAMs) || Is an open source Learning Design system for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning activities. It provides teachers with an intuitive visual authoring environment for creating sequences of learning activities. .. ||
 * Learning Management System (LMS) || A learning management system is a software application or Web-based technology used to provide an instructor with a way to create and deliver content, monitor student participation, and assess student performance. ||
 * listserv || Also known as a mailing list. An electronic means of sharing email on a shared interest or topic. People subscribe to a list in order to receive regular contact via email. ||
 * local cluster || A group of schools with a common interest or need who have decided to work together. ||
 * loops || Local 'urban fibre networks' that provide fibre based, high speed broadband connectivity to the internet and other online services. ||
 * meta course || Or 'parent course' constructed in a LMS that can be co-constructed by teachers and forms the base for the adaption and development of individual online courses. ||
 * modem || Device allowing the translation of digital data to analogue for the transmission across standard phone lines. Come in a variety of speeds. Currently 56k is the highest. ||
 * Moodle || Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment is a free and open-source e-learning software platform. ||
 * m-teacher || Mentor teacher. A teacher who gives specialist curricula support to elearning students, either based in a home school or from a distance. ||
 * National Education Network (NEN) || Ministry of Education trial project offering high-speed access to education content and services to schools with open-access fibre. ||
 * New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) || NZQA, Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa is the New Zealand government crown entity tasked with providing national and international leadership in assessment and qualifications. ||
 * Open Education Resources (OER) || Teaching and learning resources that are freely available online for everyone to use. ||
 * Personal Learning Environment (PLE) || Systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning. This includes providing support for learners to set their own learning goals, manage their learning; managing both content and process, and communicate with others in the process of learning. ||
 * Point to multipoint || Link from one site to many sites. ||
 * Point to point || Link from one site to another site. ||
 * polycom || A proprietary speaker phone or video phone used for audio or video-conferencing. ||
 * portal || Website that acts as portal, or way in to other websites and online space. ||
 * reciprocity || The basis for schools collaborating online within an LCO. The richness of learning opportunities for all students in an LCO is enabled by the contributions of participating schools. ||
 * rubric || Is a set of criteria and standards linked to learning objectives that is used to assess a student's performance. ||
 * site mentor || Or site supervisor. A person in a distance education site who is responsible for the day to day needs of the distance learner, and the keeping of records, etc. The site mentors are the primary conduit of information and feedback to and from a school to the cluster. The role is required to encourage positive learning experiences rather than focus solely on the administration/disciplinary aspects of operating the LCO. Regular feedback and evaluation of student experience needs to be done, formally and informally, by the people in these roles, and passed on to the teacher through positive constructive guidance. ||
 * stakeholders || People or groups of people with a vested interested in the success of a project. Stakeholders in an LCO will be students, parents & whanau, teachers, Principals, Boards of Trustees. Stakeholders can also be the wider community, other organisations and educational groups that have input or benefit from the work of the LCO. ||
 * synchronous || Communication where interaction between participants takes place simultaneously. An example would be a live video-conference or sharing a digital whiteboard between sites. ||
 * Tandberg Content Server || A system for creation and deployment of live or on-demand video acquired during a video conference. ||
 * video-conferencing || A combination of video and audio for interactive communication between two or more sites. ||
 * virtual learning || Describes the separation of //place// and sometimes time of learning from the //source// of learning. ||
 * Web 2.0 || Web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. ||
 * Webinar || Seminar occurring on the internet. ||