Affective Domain
The domain of human learning that involves changes in interests, attitudes, and values and the development of appreciation.
Asynchronous setting
A distance learning setup in which the teacher and students are not together at the same time.
Authentic assessment
Evaluation that is usually performance based and that requires students to demonstrate their learning in a natural context.
Bit
An acronym for binary digit, the smallest unit of digital information. The bit can be thought of as a 1 or a 0 representing a circuit on or off, respectively.
Blended instruction
A combination of e-learning with live, face-to-face instruction.
Digital fabricator
Three-dimensional printer or rapid prototyping machine, also known as a “fabber” (short for fabricator), that can build 3-D objects by carefully depositing materials drop by drop, layer by layer, using a geometric blueprint from a CAD program.
Discovery
A teaching strategy that proceeds as follows: immersion in a real or contrived problem situation, development of hypotheses, testing of hypotheses, and arrival at conclusion (the main point).
Emoticon
An email symbol generated from punctuation marks.
Encode
To visually express an idea to others.
Entry tests
Assessments, both formal and informal, to determine whether students possess desired identified prerequisites.
Fair use
Basic criteria an educator can use to determine whether it is appropriate to use copyrighted materials in a classroom setting.
Firewall
Intranet software that prevents external users from accessing a proprietary network, while allowing internal users access to external networks.
Flash drive
USB minidrive, a form of removable storage device that allows the user to store files outside the computer; also called a jump drive.
Gateway
A computer that interconnects and makes translations between two different types of networks. Also called a portal.
Gigabyte
Approximately 1 million bytes, or 1,000 megabytes.
Hypertext transfer protocol
The web protocol that ensures compatibility before transferring information.
Informal learning
An instructional setting that provides students with opportunities to learn from experiences outside of the classroom.
Information literacy
The ability to use a range of critical thinking and problem-solving skills to effectively participate in today’s society.
Input device
Hardware that transmits information to the computer, for example, a keyboard and mouse.
Integrated learning system
A set of interrelated computer-based lessons organized to match the curriculum standards.
Integrated services digital network (ISDN)
A network that provides high-speed access to the Internet using digital communication.
Local area network (LAN)
A simple network that connects individual computers to one another within a limited area—normally a classroom, building, or laboratory—to permit the exchange of files and other resources.
Mobile app
Software application designed for mobile devices that enable many of these devices to take photos and short video, email, surf the Web, play games, provide location-based services (GPS), and use calendars and other personal management tools.
Mobile assessment tool
Mobile computing resource that enables teachers to record student assessment data directly into a mobile device that transfers the data to a computer for report generation.
Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)
Technology that allows students to create music by focusing on musical ideas rather than the mechanics of playing an instrument or learning musical notation.