Glossary

This software permits students to have text read aloud. This is a useful tool for those students who are auditory learners, students that struggle with reading comprehension and for students who want to hear their own writing for editing, review, and improvement. It is also a useful tool for individuals who are physically unable to read and still need to gain access to written information or have a visual impairment. This software permits students to turn written information into audiobook form.

A teacher who provides instruction, academic advice, or counsel to one or more students. The role of an online tutor involves assisting, directing, and stimulating the learning during an online course.

Universal design is a design concept that recognizes, respects, values and attempts to accommodate the broadest possible spectrum of human ability in the design of all products, environments, and information systems. It requires sensitivity to and knowledge about people of all ages and abilities. Sometimes referred to as "lifespan design" or "transgenerational design," universal design encompasses and goes beyond the accessible, adaptable, and barrier-free design concepts of the past. It helps eliminate the need for special features and spaces, which for some people, are often stigmatizing, embarrassing, different looking and usually more expensive (Duncan, 2014).

The term “Universal design for learning” means a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that: (A) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and (B) reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students (About Universal Design for Learning, 2015).

An online teaching and learning environment in which students and educators can communicate, interact, and engage with learning resources in real-time. Different virtual classroom providers or LMSs/VLEs offer different tools in the classroom.

A system for delivering learning materials to learners via the web. The main components of a VLE system include curriculum mapping (breaking curriculum into sections that can be assigned and assessed), student tracking, online support for both teachers and students, electronic communication (e-mail, threaded discussions, chat), and links to external curriculum resources.

A term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online. Web 2.0 basically refers to the transition from static Web pages to a more dynamic Web that is more organized and is based on serving Web applications to users. Other improved functionality of Web 2.0 includes open communication with an emphasis on Web-based communities of users, and more open sharing of information. (Definition adapted from Webopedia)

Short for web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop, or seminar that is transmitted over the Web. A key feature of a webinar is its interactive elements - the ability to give, receive and discuss information (definition adapted from Webopedia). A webinar is a seminar or workshop which is held online using video conferencing software. Webinars are often held in virtual classrooms but can also be held using other video conferencing tools. Presenters and attendees at a webinar will join online, synchronously from wherever they are. Webinars are usually interactive, not just a lecture with Q&A. The different tools provided by virtual classroom software enables student engagement in webinars e.g., by text chat, answering polls, engaging in activities, asking questions, or discussion and activities in breakout rooms.

A collaborative website comprising the collective work of many authors. A wiki allows groups of individuals to collaboratively edit, delete or modify content that has been placed on the Web site, including the work of previous authors. (Definition adapted from Webopedia)

An acronym for What You See Is What You Get, usually referring to a text editor where formatting changes are instantly visible. In most LMSs, many tools provide a WYSIWYG html editor, in order to easily create html code, and which automatically builds the source code.