Select a letter below:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Academic Advisor
The person who advises or counsels students in all academics related matters.
Academic Credential
Written proof of completion of a particular level of education.
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
This is the policy that specifies the restrictions, limits and responsibilities for staff, students and others when they use software and technology applications owned and operated by an educational institution.
Accredited
Recognition of a particular college, university, or any other educational institution by a regional or national authorized organization entrusted with the job of ensuring standards in education.
American Opportunity Credit
A tax credit that allows U.S. taxpayers a tax credit on tuition fees made to a post secondary education. This credit is allowed till a maximum limit of $2,500.
Applet
A tiny program written in Java, which is embedded in a HTML webpage and is launched every time a page loads.
Associate Degree
This degree is awarded to a student after he or she completes a two year associate program after finishing high school. The student needs to complete at least twenty classes or sixty credit hours to be awarded this degree. Some examples of Associate Degrees are A.S. (Associate of Science), A.A. (Associate of Arts), etc.
Asynchronous Communication
Communication that does not involve relay of communication at the same time or immediately after a communication is sent or received.
Asynchronous Learning
Interactive learning where the teaching and learning is not synchronized. A process in which the interaction between the teacher and student is delayed over time.
Audio Conferencing
Voice based communication through software based Internet applications or traditional telephone lines.
Audit
Participation in an individual course that does not offer academic credit. This is chosen by people who love learning and want to continue learning all their life.
Average Daily Membership (ADM)
This is the number of days of total attendance and absence divided by the number of days taught.
B
Bachelor Degree
The degree awarded after completion of a four year program, post high school, consisting of approximately 120 credit hours. Popular bachelor’s degrees are B.S. (Bachelor of Science), B.A. (Bachelor of Arts), etc.
Backup
A copy of the digital data saved on a hard disk of a computer. Ex. DVDs, CDs, External HDDs, Floppy Disks, etc.
Bandwidth
The capacity of an internet connection to transfer information and measured in bits-per-second.
Barter Share Model
This is the sharing of students resources in return for sharing of classes by participating institutions.
Blog
The shortened form of Web Log, a blog is a website that can be updated periodically by the owner and the content arranged in a chronological order.
Brick-and-Mortar
Denotes colleges or universities where classes are conducted in physical structures and buildings.
Broadband
A type of internet connection that is faster and can carry more information than a telephone internet connection (Dial Up).
Browser
An internet based software that allows you access to websites. Examples Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.
Bulletin Boards
Asynchronous electronic displays of messages or personal work through the Internet.
C
Career Coach
A professional who is academically qualified and/or experienced and who can guide clients in all career related matters.
Certificate
Written record as a proof of qualification or achievement.
Chat
Denotes communication over the Internet through synchronous typing of messages.
CCNE
Stands for Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. This is an independent national accreditation agency responsible for evaluating postsecondary nursing programs and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CLEP
Stands for College Level Examination Program. This is a series of tests administered by the college board allowing students to demonstrate their college level proficiency in a particular subject.
Cognition
The awareness and understanding of an object or a concept.
CNE Certification
Stands for Certified Nurse Educator Certification. This certification is awarded to individuals who have passed the CNE exam and denotes a level of professionalism and experience of an educator in the nursing field.
Cohort
Denotes a small group of students who are together in an educational program.
College
A postsecondary educational institution that offers post high school education and awards degrees and certifications like Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Doctoral Degrees or Associate’s Degrees.
Computer Based Training (CBT)
Training imparted through computers. Example CD-Rom, Internet, etc.
Concentration
Denotes focus on a particular subject matter within a degree program. For example, an MBA student can specialize in Finance.
Cookies
This is the stored information that is sent by a web browser to a website and back, and helps in the speeding up of the transfer of information when a user visits a particular website again because some information about that particular website is already stored in the form of cookies.
Correspondence Course
A form of distance education, now outdated, conducted through postal mail.
Course Management System
This software, also known as CMS, is used by universities and colleges to facilitate online education by centralizing the management, conceptualization and distribution of educational materials and instructions.
Coursework
Projects, assignments and tasks completed over the period of a degree program.
Credit
A credit is a measurement that denotes the amount of academic work completed by a student successfully.
Cyber Charter School
The same as a brick and mortar college except that instructions are delivered through the Internet here.
D
DANTES
Stands for Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support. Dantes offers voluntary educational programs and awards college credit on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Deadline
The time limit by which an assignment or task should be completed by a student.
DHTML
Stands for Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language and denotes the language used to create dynamic webpages that allow for interactivity.
Diploma Mills
Also known as Degree Mills, these institutions are not recognized by accreditation agencies and just award degrees, diplomas and certifications for a flat fee without adhering to any standards of quality.
Distance Education
A process of education in which the student and the teacher are not in the same place.
Doctoral Degree
A degree awarded to individuals who have passed their Master’s programs and have specialized in a particular field of study. Example PhD – Doctor of Philosophy.
E
EBook
A digital book that can be read through the use of a computer, E-book reader or tablet PC.
E-learning
Learning imparted and received electronically through the use of computers via CDs, DVDs, LAN, WAN or the Internet.
ECE
Stands for Excelsior College Examinations. This was called Regents College Examinations earlier. These exams are objective in nature and consist of multiple choice questions, but some of them can be entirely based on essays.
EFC
Stands for Expected Family Contribution and denotes the dollar amount a student’s family can contribute towards tuition costs.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Benefits offered by employers to employees to partially or fully recover tuition costs for training or post-secondary courses.
Enrollment Advisor
A person responsible for recruiting and enrolling prospective students. Sometimes, this person might also perform the role of an academic advisor.
Ergonomics
The study of the relationship between human bodies and their relationship with objects in their work environment.
Eyestrain
Straining or tiring of the eyes and the muscles in and around them.
F
Face-to-Face
Known also as F2F, this usually describes the traditional classrooms where students and teachers are present in the same location and at the same time.
Facilitator
Also known as Course Instructor or Course Moderator, the facilitator acts as a medium for the online teaching-learning process.
FAFSA
Also known as Free Application For Free Student Aid, this is the official, federal application that students are required to fill and submit to qualify for federal financial aid.
Focus
Concentrating thought on a specific action, object or idea.
File
A collection of details or information stored for later referencing.
First-Professional Degree
The degree awarded to a person who has completed an academic program necessary for the professional practice of a particular discipline. Some examples of First Professional Degrees are M.D. (Medicine), O.D. (Optometry), D. Pharm (Pharmacy), etc.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
The number of students in an institution if all the students in the institution were full time students.
G
Graduate Student
A student who holds a bachelor’s or first professional degree or their equivalent is called a graduate student.
Graduate Studies
Studies after the bachelor’s degree program that leads to a professional, master’s or doctoral degree are called graduate studies.
Grant
A type of financial aid given to a student who requires financial help to complete his or her education.
GRE
Graduate Record Exams, or GRE, are tests conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for a graduate program.
GMAT
Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is a test that determines the analytical writing skills, verbal skills and quantitative skills of graduate level business school candidates.
H
Homegrown Content
Original, online course content developed entirely in-house by an institution.
Home Office
A home that doubles up as an office. It could also mean a separate space inside a home furnished with office essentials.
Hope Scholarship Tax Credit
The Hope Scholarship Tax Credit is offered to students in the taxpayer’s family. The credit will cover qualified and related expenses if the student is enrolled in a degree, certificate or any other educational program.
HTML
Stands for Hyper Text Markup Language, a programming language used in creating webpages.
HTTP
Stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. This is used by web servers and web browsers to transfer data between them.
I
Instant Messenger
Instant Messenger, or IM, is an application that allows online users to communicate with each other instantly using text, audio and video. Examples Skype, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger and MSM Messenger.
Internet Service Provider
An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is the company that provides the Internet connection services through broadband, wireless, dial up or any other networking technology.
J
Job Training
Hands on guidance, teaching, and instructions with the purpose of adequately equipping a student for a particular job or task is job training.
K
Keyboard Shortcut
Keystrokes on a computer, which when triggered, perform actions within an application or program.
Keystroke
Pressing of a key or multiple keys at the same time on the keyboard of a computer.
L
Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
The Lifetime Learning Tax Credit is offered to individuals, for qualified tuition fees and related expenses, who are graduate students or working U.S. citizens and willing to upgrade or improve their job skills.
M
Master Degree
An advanced degree offered to students who have completed their bachelor’s degree programs. Examples M.S. (Master of Science), M.A. (Master of Arts), etc.
Mentor
A school employee who helps online students in a face to face environment.
Multi-Tasking
To perform more than one task at the same time.
N
Netiquette
Rules regarding internet behavior and conduct in communication. For example, capitalization of all letters in a message is construed as yelling.
Non-Traditional Student
A non-traditional student is one who delays enrollment; has dependents other than a spouse; is a single parent, is a fulltime worker, is a part time student, does not have a high school diploma, etc.
NLNAC
Stands for National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. It is a U.S. Department of education recognized national accrediting agency that specializes in the evaluations of post secondary nursing education programs.
O
Occupation
The role of an employee within an organization.
Off-the-Grid
Generally refers to a person who does not have a digital footprint on the Internet.
Offline
Not connected to the Internet.
Online Learning
Learning done through the use of the Internet.
P
Personal Interest
Activities that draw a person towards participation.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
The process by which certain universities and colleges give credit for already existing knowledge of skill sets.
Private Institution
An educational institution owned and managed by non-governmental bodies.
Public Institution
An educational institution owned and operated by elected officials and run on public funds.
Q
Qualified Tuition Program (QTP)
Also known as a 529 plan, this is a state or approved agency managed savings program that allows individuals to contribute to a savings account which will pay for tuition fees and other educational expenses.
R
Registrar
A department in a university or college that is responsible for keeping records.
Research
The search for knowledge using a particular methodology.
Scholarship
An award based on merit given to deserving students that typically includes monetary benefits.
S
Section 508
This is a U.S. law, part of the 1998 Rehabilitation Act, which requires that all electronic information used or developed by the federal government to be made available for people with disabilities.
Semester
Half of an academic calendar that usually lasts 6 months.
Skimming
The act of scanning through pages or text quickly.
Study
A field or discipline taken up by an individual for the purpose of gaining expertise or knowledge.
SQ3R
This method, also known as the SQRRR method, is the process of breaking down the reading process into five parts; namely, reading the text, recalling the meaning of the text orally or in writing, and reviewing the main points of the text.
Streaming Video
Video sent or received on the Internet when it is being broadcast or played instead of waiting for the entire file to download.
Surge Protector
A device that protects appliances from sudden spikes in voltage.
Syllabus
A document containing an overview of details such as course objectives, topics to be covered, textbooks required, assignments, deadlines, exam dates, grading policies and other relevant information pertaining to an academic year provided by the instructor at the start of a class.
Synchronous Communication
Communication that takes place at the same time.
Synchronous Learning
Learning interaction that happens simultaneously.
System Requirements
The technological requirements needed for a computer to effectively conduct an e-learning process.
T
Terminal Degree
The highest degree available/offered in a specific field of study. This is usually a doctoral degree, but this is not the rule. Some of the popular terminal degrees are M.D. (Medical Doctor), Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), etc.
Threaded Discussion
A discussion pertaining to one subject or a variety of subjects between students and teachers through a series of messages in the same discussion forum us called a threaded discussion.
Time Management
Effectively judge and handle tasks within a specific time period.
Title IV
The process of overseeing guaranteed students loans and Pell grants by the U.S. government.
To-do List
A listing of tasks to be completed.
Touchpad
Part of a laptop that allows a user to operate a cursor on the laptop screen with the touch of a fingertip.
Transfer Credit
Academic credits issued by one institution that are also acknowledged and accepted by other institutions.
U
Undergraduate Student
A college student who is pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s program.
University
An advanced institution that contains one or more professional or graduate schools which offer master’s, doctor’s and bachelor’s degrees.
U.S. Department of Education
A federal agency that is responsible for distributing financial aid, research and data about American schools, and maintaining and controlling the quality of American education.
USB Flash Drive
A storage device also known as a “thumb drive” or a “jump drive”.
V
Video Conferencing
Video and audio communication using a computer and the Internet.
Virtual
Not physical and usually relates to an online environment or process.
W
Web Based Training (WBT)
Training imparted over LAN, WAN or the Internet.
Wi-Fi
Stands for Wireless Fidelity. Internet connection through the means of Wi-Fi signals.
Whiteboard
A common feature in online education, a whiteboard is the electronic equivalent of a board and chalk. In this, the computer screen usually acts as the whiteboard.
Work-Life Balance
A balanced lifestyle that devotes equal time to work and personal life.
WPM
Stands for Word per Minute, and refers to the number of words an individual can type within a minute on the computer keyboard.
