Glossary

Originally a digital audio file made available online for download to computer or mobile device. Now the term can include video, e-books, and radio broadcasts as well as audio. The video podcasts are sometimes called vodcasts/vidcasts.

The maintenance of a desired level of quality in a service or product. In education this implies the inclusion of the quality of teaching, resources, assessments, etc., as well as the quality of the institution.

The Quiz is a very powerful activity that can meet many teaching needs, from simple, multiple-choice knowledge tests to complex, self-assessment tasks with detailed feedback. Questions are created and stored separately in a Question bank and can be reused in different quizzes. They can be graded automatically by the platform, or they may require grading of the answers to some questions by a tutor (for example, short essay questions or open-ended questions).

An approach to website design that automatically scales webpage content and elements to match the screen size on which it is viewed. It keeps images from being larger than the screen width and prevents visitors on mobile devices from needing to do extra work to read the content.

A rubric is a) an evaluation tool or b) set of guidelines used to promote the consistent application of learning objectives or to measure their attainment against a consistent set of criteria. For each criteria, various levels of performance or achievement are described, usually presented as a grid or matrix.

Scenarios are relatively abstract descriptions of a learning and teaching experience describing the interactions of the learners and teachers with each other, tools and resources, the learning context and environment, etc. They are intended to include innovation in technology supported learning and teaching, in one form or other.

Screen readers are audio interfaces. Rather than displaying web content visually for users in a "window" or screen on the monitor, screen readers convert text into synthesized speech so that users can listen to the content (Designing for Screen Reader Compatibility, 2016).

A form of instruction that proceeds based on the learner's response; for example, a self-paced course enables a learner to start and finish as quickly or as slowly as they like.

The process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society. Social inclusion aims to empower poor and marginalized people to take advantage of burgeoning global opportunities. It ensures that people have a voice in decisions which affect their lives and that they enjoy equal access to markets, services, and political, social, and physical spaces.

This is a software that takes audio content and transcribes it into written words in a word processor or other display destination. This software reduces the amount of manual typing required when managing material. It is also helpful for individuals who struggle with fine motor tasks, such as using pencils, pens, and keyboards.

Framework to support a course, presented as a document. It usually includes the purpose of the course, target audience, objectives, course structure and contents, duration, assessment strategies, etc.

Assessment (often taking place at the end of a course or programme) leading to the attribution of a grade or a mark to the student. The results of summative assessment determine whether a student progresses to the next stage of the programme or, on completion, gains an award. Summative assessments are primarily designed to sum up what students have achieved after a period of time. Summative assessments include standardized tests delivered by examination, final projects, assignments, portfolios, etc.

The Survey activity offers a number of verified survey instruments and question types, useful in assessing and stimulating learning in online environments. Teachers can use these to gather data from their students that will help them learn about their class and reflect on their own teaching.

Existing or occurring at the same time.

A general term used to describe forms of education, instruction, and learning that occur at the same time, but not in the same place. The term is most commonly applied to various forms of televisual, digital, and online learning in which students learn from instructors, colleagues, or peers in real time, but not in person. It is most commonly used in the context of online or digital learning. Participants interact at the same time. For example, educational videoconferences, interactive webinars, workshops, chat-based online discussions, and lectures that are broadcast at the same time as they are delivered, would all be considered forms of synchronous learning (adapted from: The Glossary of Education Reform, 2014).