Glossary

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

Glossary of Internet & Web Jargon (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Glossary.html) This extensive glossary offers links to sites for more in-depth information about a number of terms.

A

audioconferencing: a conference call, using either the telephone system or the computer

B

brainstorming: is a strategy for generating creative ideas and solutions

bot (or crawler or spider): a program that visits Web pages, on a regular basis, reads their content, follows their links to the other pages in the Web site, then takes the information to the index

C

case study: a story, told with a wealth of accurate, detailed information, which offers students the opportunity to evaluate the information provided for importance and relevance, identify the problem situation and recognize the particulars relevant in defining the problem, formulate possible solutions for the problem, evaluate the possible solutions, selecting one solution, create a plan of action for implementing the chosen solution, and anticipate obstacles to the successful implementation of the solution.

chat: a form of typed text discussion on the Internet

circle of knowledge: pairs of students discuss a concept then share their ideas in the large group

cloze procedure: a reading activity, often used as a diagnostic, in which every nth word is deleted from a selected reading. Students are then asked to read the passage, inserting a word into each blank to create a meaningful reading.

computer-assisted instruction (CAI): instructional programs in which the functions of the teacher are completed by the computer

concept attainment: an indirect instructional strategy that compels students to identify distinguishing characteristics of a given item or concept

concept formation: a classification activity that leads your students to use item characteristics for classification. It develops their abilities to observe items thoroughly and to make useful observations. It also helps them to discover methods of classification.

concept map: a graphic representation of a network of concepts with links revealing patterns and relationships between the concepts

cooperative learning groups: small groups of students work interdependently to reach the learning goals of the group

crawler (or bot or spider): a program that visits Web pages, on a regular basis, reads their content, follows their links to the other pages in the Web site, then takes the information to the index

Return to top

D

daemon: a program that handles HTTP requests whenever they come to the server. The daemon returns the requested file to the browser.

debate: an oral exchange of ideas through a specified structure

demonstrations: involve the teacher showing students procedures or skills through explaining and activity

didactic questions: questions focused on a single topic, usually beginning with "what", "where", "when", and "how", used to determine student comprehension or to assist students in recalling prior learning

direct instruction: is a teacher-centred approach used to provide information, teach standard procedures, or develop step-by-step skills. It involves the following strategies: demonstrations, didactic questions, drill and practice, explicit teaching, mastery lecture, guides for reading, listening, and viewing, and structured overview.

directory path: part of the Internet address (URL) of a resource. The directory path follows the domain and identifies the directory in which the resource is located.

discussion: students discuss an issue or problem with which they are familiar. The goal of the discussion is to find a solution or reach consensus.

domain: part of the Internet address (URL). The domain is indicated by the final two or three letters in the server's Internet address. A domain indicates the kind of organization that is hosting the resource.

drill and practice: the repetitive review of previously learned concepts

E

e-mail: also known as electronic mail, is a telecommunication exchange of computer text messages. In addition to plain text messages, e-mails may also include attachments of text and non-text files (graphic images and sound files), spreadsheets, and programs

essays: research-backed statements of opinion on arguable topics

experiential learning: is constructivist learning, where students are active learners, constructing their own knowledge, rather than observing the demonstrative behaviour of a teacher. Such learning may involve one or more of the following instructional strategies: experiments, field observations, field trips, focused imaging, games, model building, role plays, simulations, surveys, and synectics.

experiments: activities which entail the testing of a hypothesis with controls, dependent and independent variables to determine the effect.

explicit teaching: has six parts including performing daily review, presenting new material, conducting guided practice, providing feedback and correctives, conducting independent practice, and performing weekly and monthly review."

F

field observations : involve students making observations of the natural world outside of their classroom

field trip: an educational activity undertaken by students outside of their classroom

focused imaging : an activity in which students are taught to relax and then are guided to use their imaginations to "experience" situations and respond to them

Return to top

G

games: structured learning activities that involve rules for playing, winning and ending the activity. There is usually an element of competition involved.

graphics: (also known as images or digital images) pictures for computers. The term graphics is often used to refer to images that are not photographs. If the graphics are Web images, they are usually jpeg (jpg) or gif files. If the graphics are for printing, they are commonly PICT, TIFF, EPS, BMP, QuickTime files.

guides for reading, listening, and viewing: include questions, graphics, or statements design to facilitate focusing on the key concepts within any type of presentation

H

hyperlink: special links that enable the user to "jump around" on the World Wide Web. A hyperlink may link to a different portion of the same Web page, to a different Web page within the Web site, or to an entirely new Web site. Hyperlinks may be text, which is usually of a different colour and/or underlined, or graphics.

I

independent study: students work on their own with the classroom teacher facilitating the work. It may involve one or more of the following strategies: assigned questions, computer-assisted instruction, correspondence lessons, essays, homework, learning activity packages, learning centres,
learning contracts, and research projects.

index: a huge catalogue or index of the words found in all of the Web pages that the spider visited and read

indirect instruction: includes the following among its strategies: case study, cloze procedure, concept attainment, concept formation, concept mapping, inquiry, problem-solving, reading for meaning, and reflective study. Indirect instruction is a learning-centred teaching strategy. It promotes student involvement in the learning process and, in doing so, fosters true learning for understanding.

inquiry: an Indirect Instructional Strategy that promotes active, self-directed learning. Through the process, the student learns to think critically and to problem-solve, while also discovering course content. The teacher takes the role of facilitator and mentor.

Return to top

J

K

L

lab groups: groups of students who work cooperatively to complete experiments

learning activity package (LAP): a series of activities prepared by a teacher that enable a student to explore a topic or idea or to develop a skill

learning centres: offer various stations at which individuals or groups of students may complete selected tasks or activities. The activities are designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles and challenge the multiple intelligences.

learning contract: an agreement between a teacher and a student about the undertaking and completion of specified learning activities in an effort to reach a learning goal

listserv: an automatic mailing list server. People with similar interests or concerns often comprise the membership of a listserv. When one of the group addresses an e-mail to the listserv mailing list, the e-mail is automatically sent to every member of the listserv.

Return to top

M

mastery lecture: a type of direct instruction in which a significant amount of information can be communicated in a relatively short period of time. Mastery lecture is best when it involves audio and visual aids and when interaction between the teacher and the students is facilitated.

model building: activities in which students design and construct a representation of a theory, concept, or object

MOO (Multi-user Object Oriented): text-mediated virtual environments accessed via the Internet

MUD (Multi-User Domain): a computer program that allows users to log in, take control of a computerized character (aka avatar), and interact within a virtual environment

N

O

Return to top

P

panels: small groups that hold a discussion in front of their classmates. Panels are moderated

peer practice: students practice skills or review concepts together

problem-solving: (aka problem-based learning) is a constructivist approach that promotes student involvement and active learning. This instructional strategy uses real-world problems as the organizational focus of student learning. In problem-solving, students are self-directed learners while the teacher acts as facilitator.

Q

R

reading for meaning: an indirect instructional method in which the reader reads with the intent of understanding the information presented; that is, the reader interprets the material to construct meaning within the context of the text. A key part of this process is making connections between what is already known and what is new.

reflective study: writing and discussion activities which will vary depending upon the nature of the course and the objectives of the teacher

research projects: projects designed to allow students opportunities to develop research and writing skills

role plays: taking on roles and interacting in groups actively involves students taking on a perspective other than their own. In doing so, students begin to appreciate the beliefs, wants and needs, and motivations of others while trying to find creative and effective solutions to challenges.

Return to top

S

search engine: a program that indexes information from Web pages, then seeks to match relevant Web pages to the search request of a user

semantic map: features a key idea is as the centre of the concept map. Students brainstorm related terms then categorize them. The mapping process facilitates the students' awareness and understanding of new terms as well as relationships between them.

server: the "host computer" that will make the resource available to the computer requesting them.

simulations: "Simulations and games are teaching and learning methods in which participants are directly involved in making decisions and learning from the outcomes of these. Their active, student centred nature means that they are memorable and highly motivating. They enable the exploration of the complex nature of the real world and interdisciplinary, interacting subjects as well as the more basic needs of understanding, doing and skills practice." The Society for the Advancement of Games and Simulations in Education and Training, http://graph.ms.ic.ac.uk/sagset/

spam: unsolicited bulk e-mail from a source who is unknown to you

spider (or crawler or bot): a program that visits Web pages, on a regular basis, reads their content, follows their links to the other pages in the Web site, then takes the information to the index

streaming media: include video, animation, and audio files

structured overview: making ideas or topics meaningful through organization

survey: a research instrument which involves the asking of questions of a group of individuals

synectics: a problem solving method that employs the use of metaphor and analogy to spark creativity

T

teleconferencing: audio, video, or computer communication between groups of individuals at different locations

threaded discussion: (aka message board or forum) an electronic bulletin board on which messages are posted over a period of time. In a threaded discussion an initial post is made in the form of a question or statement. Further postings are comprised of responses to the initial post or to other postings in the discussion. The thread in a threaded discussion refers to the initial post plus all of the postings made to it.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet (TCP/IP) Protocol: the language with which all of the computers on the Internet communicate

tutorial groups: designed for students who need extra practice or special assistance in mastering educational content or skills.

U

URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): is the more formal term for the address of a Web page. The URI is more commonly known as the URI.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator): (commonly pronounced U-R-L but also pronounced uhrl) is the standard and only way of specifying the location of electronic resources such as Web pages, images, electronic mailboxes, files available for download, et cetera. It is the "address" of the resource.

Return to top

V

videoconferencing: a computerconference in which users have a choice of two-way voice and video or two-way voice and one-way video

W

Web browser: (also known as browser) a computer application that enables the user to examine and interact with the information on the World Wide Web. Browsers make use of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to request information from Web servers for the browser user. The two most common Web browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Web directory: a database of Web sites that have been classified into categories

whiteboard: electronic boards that allow users to draw a sketch on the board which is then shared with those involved in the computerconference. Whiteboards typically resemble paint programs. Images may be pasted and text may be typed on a whiteboard.

World Wide Web: also known as the Web, WWW, or W3, is an enormous collection of documents, containing information on thousands of topics, stored on computers around the world

X

Return to top

Y

Z

zip file: a single file that is actually a package of a set of files. Files in the package are usually "compressed" so that they take up less space. The smaller zip file is thus easier to store or to send to someone electronically. There are a number of programs available for zipping files. A zip file is recognizable due to its ".zip" suffix. If you download a zip file, you may have to extract the files and decompress them using a zip program.

Return to top