E-Learning Glossary
A
active learning
Learning through doing
adaptive
Responding to user choice and adapting appropriately
ADDIE model
An instructional design model. Stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation
AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee)
A set of specifications for interoperability within e-learning
assessment
Competency-based measurement and documentation of the knowledge and skills of an individual
learner
assessment item
An assessment question and its associated answers, feedback, etc.
assessment object
In an LCMS or authoring tool, a small unit of content that facilitates practice or assessment (e.g. a
multiple choice question)
authoring tool
A program for developing e-learning content
B
blended learning
A style of learning that involves both instructor-led learning and e-learning
branching
Having a “choose your own adventure” navigational structure
C
Canvas
An academic LMS. Currently used for all Staff e-learning courses
Captivate
An authoring tool from Adobe. Currently used to develop many e-learning courses at the Alliance
catalog
The list of all courses
class
A scheduled offering of a course from the catalog
completed (e.g. course development has been “completed”)
Fully developed, but not yet released for use. May still require functional testing, uploading to LMS or
other delivery method, etc.
conceptual check-in
Graded or ungraded assessment of an individual learner’s conceptual understanding (as opposed to
application)
content
The collective components of an e-learning course. Includes text, video, audio, interactivity, quizzes, etc.
content expert – see SME
content management framework
A system that facilitates the management of web content
CMS (content management system)
A system for developing, maintaining, sharing, updating, and tracking content. Content is typically
stored in reusable, traceable containers within an overall hierarchy
course
A unit of curriculum that may be offered online or as an instructor-led class
curricular competency
An objective written for the learner, based on a developmental competency
curriculum
Materials associated with learning. Includes both instruction and assessment
D
delivery method
A system used to deliver a product or training to the user, such as an LMS or in-person training
developmental competency
A big-picture standard for learning
distance learning
A form of learning in which the source of the course material and the learner are not physically together
at the same time
Drupal
A content management framework
E
engagement
Emotional and/or intellectual interest and involvement
evaluation
The process of gauging a product’s effectiveness
F
feedback
Information given after a response to a question. Feedback can be response-specific or general
formative
Providing information to the user to facilitate additional learning. For example, practice questions with
robust feedback are called “formative”
from-the-ground-up animation
A piece of continuous motion created with a tool such as Flash or HTML5, or the process of creating a
piece of continuous motion in such a tool. This is a sophisticated type of animation, in which objects
change location or appearance to move as in real life, and requires a specialist
functional requirements
Specifications for how a user interacts with a system and how the system responds. Functional
requirements are usually agreed upon before interface requirements
functional testing
A quality assurance pass to verify that the system is responding as expected.
G
global unique identifier
A reference number assigned to a piece of content for quick and easy identification and reuse
H
I
instruction
The collection of materials that facilitate a transfer of knowledge from the source to the learner
instructional design
The art and practice of creating materials to facilitate efficient, effective, and attractive learning
interactive
Requiring participation from the user
OR
A learning object that requires participation from the user
interface requirements
Specifications for how a system should look and feel. Interface requirements are usually agreed upon
after functional requirements
interoperability
The ability of a system to work with not just one, but a variety of other systems
J
K
L
LCMS (learning content management system)
A content management system designed specifically for learning. For example, the hierarchy may
include containers for quiz questions, lessons, etc.
learning object
In an LCMS or authoring tool, a small unit of content that facilitates learning (e.g. an interactive
component on a page)
learning outcome – see curricular competency
LMS (learning management system)
A delivery method. Also used for course administration, tracking, and reporting
M
maintenance
The process of monitoring a system or product and performing planned updates or bug fixes as
necessary
manuscript
A version of a course’s content that is written prior to development within an LCMS or authoring tool.
Manuscripts are often written in a WORD
media
Images, videos, interactives, animations, assessment items, etc. Note that, even in e-learning, a page
with text on a background is not considered media
metadata
Detailed information often recorded and/or tracked for a content container within an LCMS, CMS, etc.
Metadata may include date last modified, global unique identifier, etc.
mobile
Referring to a device that can be easily transported, such as a smartphone or tablet
OR
Referring to a smartphone
N
navigation
The theory and practice of user movement within a network of information. For example, the
movement from page to page within a website
O
out-of-the-box animation
A piece of continuous motion created in PowerPoint or an authoring tool, or the process of creating a
piece of continuous motion in PowerPoint or an authoring tool. This is a simple type of animation, in
which text or images appear and disappear, and does not require a specialist
P
Panopto
A lecture-recording software used by UW
pedagogy
The art or science of teaching
posttest
An assessment administered after instruction, intended to measure an individual learner’s acquisition of
knowledge and skills
practice
Opportunity for self-assessment of knowledge and skills
practice item
A practice question and its associated answers, feedback, etc.
prescriptive learning
A style of learning in which the learner’s performance on a task or assessment automatically filters the
content for that learner’s specific needs
Presenter
An authoring tool from Adobe. Currently used to develop many e-learning courses at the Alliance
pretest
An assessment administered prior to instruction, intended to measure an individual learner’s prior
knowledge and skills
production environment
The environment currently visible and accessible to users. All assembly, testing, and review is completed
in a staging environment and then pushed to the production environment
prototype
A sample created to assess a design, resource, or process, prior to beginning full-scale development
Q
R
released (e.g. the course has been “released”)
Fully developed, tested, uploaded to LMS or other delivery method, and ready for use
S
scenario-based
Tied to a realistic application
SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model)
A set of specifications for interoperability within e-learning
session
One sitting within a class. A two-day class would have two sessions
SharePoint
A content management framework
SME (subject matter expert)
A resource available for curriculum development or consultation, whose expertise lies in the content or
subject matter
Spiceworks
An online ticketing system for reporting errors and suggestions and tracking their resolution. The
Alliance uses this system for its e-learnings
staging environment
An environment used to assemble, test, and review new content or new versions, before moving to the
production environment. For example, a staging website
storyboard
An outline of an e-learning course or lesson. Usually includes the takeaway and choice of media for each
page or component
summative
Providing information to the system to facilitate assessment of an individual learner
T
target audience
The specific group at which a product is aimed
Tin Can
A set of specifications for interoperability within e-learning
U
UI (user interface)
The top layer of a program or system, which allows the user to easily interact with the program or
system
user story
A one-sentence statement that includes a task the user needs to complete and why. Project managers
and software developers often base their requirements on user stories and try to streamline the tasks
listed within user stories
UX (user experience)
A user’s perceptions and emotions that result from interacting with a program or system
V
W
workflow
A sequence of repeatable steps, perhaps completed by more than one entity, that takes materials,
services, or information from one state to another. A detailed process
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)
A design program (such as an authoring tool) in which you can immediately view the outcome from the
editing screen (as opposed to a program in which you have to code and then view the outcome).
Pronounced “wizzy wig”
X
Y
Z