Category Archives: General

3G: Third-generation mobile telephone technology. The services associated with 3G provide the ability to transfer both voice data (such as making a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as downloading information, exchanging e-mail, and instant messaging).

4G: Fourth-generation mobile telephone technology. When implemented, it will feature high-speed mobile wireless access with a very high data transmission speed, of the same order of magnitude as a local area network connection (10 Mbits/s and up).

Asynchronous Learning: A learning program that does not require the student and instructor to participate at the same time. Typically self-paced, online tutorials.

Audioblog: A blog that mainly publishes audio files (music or podcasting) sometimes with text and keywords for search engine optimization.

Augmented Learning: Augmented learning is a learning technique where the environment adapts to the learner. Instead of focusing on memorization, supplemental information is presented to the learner based on the current context. The augmented content can be dynamically tailored to the learner’s natural environment by displaying text, images, video or even playing audio (music or speech).

Blended Learning: A training curriculum that combines multiple types of media. Typically, blended learning refers to a combination of classroom-based training with self-paced e-learning.

Chunking: The process of separating learning materials into brief sections in order to improve learner comprehension and retention.

Collaborative Learning: Learning through the exchange and sharing of information and opinions among a peer group.

Coursecasting: Coursecasting allows students and the general public to download and listen to audio and video recordings of class lectures to their computers, iPods and other MP3 players

Courseware: Software designed specifically for use in a classroom or other educational setting, containing instructional material, educational software, or audiovisual materials.

Digital Natives: A person for whom digital technologies already existed when they were born, and hence has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3s.

E-Learning: Broad definition of the field of using technology to deliver learning and training programs. Typically used to describe media such as CD-ROM, Internet, Intranet, wireless and mobile learning. Some include Knowledge Management as a form of e-learning.

Just In Time: Popular term to described the benefit of mobile learning’s accessibility.

Learncasting: Online educational or instructional content, which may be delivered via a podcast or a syndication feed such as RSS and Atom.

Learning Content Management System (LCMS): A web-based administration program that facilitates the creation, storage and delivery of unique learning objects, as well the management of students, rosters, and assessments.

Learning Management System: A program that manages the administration of training. Typically includes functionality for course catalogs, launching courses, registering students, tracking student progress and assessments.

Learning Network: A learning community is a group of people who share common values and beliefs, are actively engaged in learning together from each other.

m-Learning: Stands for “mobile learning” and refers to the usage of training programs on wireless devices like cell phones, PDAs, or other such devices.

Mobile Application: A software application that runs in a handheld device such as a smartphone.

Mobile Blogging or Moblogging: Sending text, images, audio or video from a cellphone or other mobile device to a blog or Web site. The advent of multimedia texting (MMS) and cellphone cameras inspired moblogging.

Mobile Browser: A Web browser designed for the small screens of mobile phones. Smartphones with Web capability come with their own Web browser; however, third-party browsers may be available.

Mobile: Remote, portable, on-the-go. A “mobile” is a cellphone; however, a “mobile device” can refer to any portable device including a PDA, MP3 player or laptop.

Mobilecasting: The automatic delivery of podcasts into a mobile device. “Mobilecasting” is a generic reference to podcasts on a smartphone, whereas “MMS podcasting” refers to using the cellular messaging system to deliver brief podcasts, typically about one minute duration (see MMS). “Palmcasting” refers to Palm-based mobile devices such as the Treo and Centro smartphones.

Pedagogy: The art and science of how children learn. The principles and methods of instruction.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): A small, handheld computer currently limited in functionality (e.g., calendar, rolodex, to do list). PDA’s are expanding in their capabilities to include wireless e-mail and Internet access, thus opening opportunities for mobile learning and support

Podagogy: Where podcasting meets teaching & learning, or using portable media players to support learning.

Podcast: A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication.

Smartphone: Any handheld device that integrates personal information management and mobile phone capabilities in the same device. Often, this includes adding phone functions to already capable PDAs or putting “smart” capabilities, such as PDA functions, into a mobile phone. The key feature of a smartphone is that one can install additional applications to the device.

SMS: Short Message Service allowing messages of up to 160 characters to be sent between phones on any network

Synchronous Learning: A learning program in which the student and instructor participate at the same time. For example, an instructor-led chat session is a form of synchronous learning.

Ubiquitous Learning: Ubiquitous learning (or u-learning) is equivalent to some form of simple mobile learning, e.g. that learning environments can be accessed in various contexts and situations. An ubiquitous learning environment is any setting in which students can become totally immersed in the learning process.

Wireless Application Protocol: The technical specifications required to communicate and display content on wireless devices, such as WAP-enabled cell phones. Relevant for m-learning