Terms Used by SRSU & The Science Initiative

Active Instructional Media: An interface that allows simultaneous, "synchronous" communication. Examples would be Two-Way ITV, a telephone conversation, and traditional lecture setting. (SI)

Analog: A signal that is received in the same form in which it is transmitted, while the amplitude and frequency may vary. (PBS)

Asynchronous Communication: Two-way, "non-synchronous" communication that involves a time delay between the transmission and receipt of a message; e.g., email and voice messaging. (USDLA)

Asynchronous Transmission Mode (ATM): A method of sending data in irregular time intervals using a code such as ASCII. ATM allows most modern computers to communicate with one another easily. (U - Idaho)

Audio Conferencing: Voice communications, either through standard telephone lines or through Internet-based software. (USDLA)

Codec (COder/DECoder): Device used to convert analog signals to digital signals for transmission and reconvert signals upon reception at the remote site while allowing for the signal to be compressed for less expensive transmission. (U - Idaho)

Compressed Video: Video images processed to remove extraneous information, facilitating the transmission of information over telephone lines or other narrow bandwidth carriers. (USDLA)

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI): A teaching process in which students gain mastery over a specific set of skills by executing training programs on a computer. CAI is very effective for computer applications training. Also called CBT. (PBS)

Computer-Based Training (CBT): See "Computer-Assisted Instruction."

Desktop Videoconferencing: Videoconferencing on a personal computer. (U - Idaho)

Dial-Up Teleconferencing: Using public telephone lines for communications links among various locations. (U - Idaho)

Digital: An electrical signal that varies in discrete steps in voltage, frequency, amplitude, locations, etc. Digital signals can be transmitted faster and more accurately than analog signals. (PBS)

Distance Education (DE): Education program whereby students may complete all or part of an educational program in a geographical location apart from the institution hosting the program; the final award given is equivalent in standard and content to an award program completed on campus. (USDLA)

Distance Learning (DL): See "Distance Education"

Distributed Learning: Education delivered through distributed resources -- content, instructor, student, and technology -- in different, non0centralized locations allowing instruction and learning to occur independent of time and place. It can be used in combination with traditional classroom-based courses and traditional distance learning courses, or to create wholly virtual classrooms. (PBS)

Dual Packet Delivery: Coined term used to describe the inclusion of at least one additional content source (in our case, a high resolution source) exchangeable between two (or more) points. This is similar to Twin streaming in that multiple displays must be available to realize the additional content simultaneously with the other available content. This differs, however, from Twin Streaming in that there is a single established conference. (SI)

e - Learning: Anytime, anywhere electronic or computer-supported learning. Also called Web-based training. (PBS)

Fully Interactive Video (Two-Way Interactive Video): Two sites interact with audio and video as if they were co-located. (PBS)

High Definition TV (HDTV): A television that delivers resolution far exceeding the current NTSC standard resulting in a brighter and clearer picture. It requires bandwidth five times the capacity of a conventional TV signal. (PBS)

H.323 Video Conferencing: H.323 is a standard for suppporting audio/vido conferencing over IP (Internet Protocol). This standard was first approved by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) in 1996. (DEC)

Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI): A Hispanic Serving Institution is one that provides services to a student population of 25 percent or more Hispanic clients. (SI)

Instructional Television Fixed Services (ITFS): A band of 20 Mmicrowave-based, high-frequency television channels licened through the Federal Communications Commission by local credit granting educational institutions. The channels can be used solely to deliver instruction, or in partnership with sycompanies that deliver a subscriber-based video service that competes with land-based cable telebision systems to deliver entertainment programming. ITFS provides low-cost, limited 20-35 mile range, distribution of broadcast courses. The full allocation of 20 channels is usually available to be used by school systems, colleges, and universities in most communities. (PBS)

Integrated Digital Network (ISDN): A telecommunications standard allowing communication channels to simultaneously carry voice, video, and data. (PBS)

Interactive Television (ITV): Telecommunication of materials whereby participants can interact with and in some instances direct the instructional focus. The exact nature of said interaction can take on many forms. (SI)

Online Community: Two common uses: Either refers to the integrated infrastructure or content sharing of multiple sites and institutions, or refers to the particular society of an online classroom's participants. (SI)

Multi-Point Control Unit (MCU): Computerized switching system which allows point-to-multipoint videoconferencing. (U - Idaho)

Passive Instructional Media: An interface that allows for asynchronous communication. Examples are email, U.S. Post, voice messaging, chatrooms, and Discussion Boards. (SI)

Point of Presence (POP): Point of connection between an interexchange carrier and a local carrier to pass communications into the network. (U - Idaho)

Point-to-Point: Transmission between two locations. (U - Idaho)

Point-to-Multipoint: Transmission between multiple locations using a bridge. (U - Idaho)

Protocol: An agreed-upon set of standards, rules, or formats for exchanging data that assures uniformity between computers and applications. (PBS)

Real-time: Communication in which interaction between parties takes place simultaneously. Also referred to as asynchronous. (PBS)

Streaming: A continuous sequence of video images and/or audio that is sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed by the viewer as it arrives. A special program called a player uncompresses the the data for display and/or reception through a browser. (PBS)

Synchronous: Communication in which interaction between participants is simultaneous. (U - Idaho)

T-1 (DS-1): High speed digital channel that is a high volume carrier of voice and/or data. Often used for compressed video teleconferencing. A T-1 has 24 voice channels. (U - Idaho)

T-3 (DS-3): A digital channel which communicates at a significantly faster rate than T-1. (U - Idaho)

Teleconferencing: The use of sophisticated telecommunications to link remote sites; examples are audioconferencing and videoconferencing. (USDLA)

Telecourse: Fully accredited, video-based courses delivered via television. Telecourses are complete and integrated instructional systems that generally include the television programs, a textbook, study guide, faculty manual, and other instructional materials. (PBS)

Title 5: U.S. Department of Education programs dedicated to the improvement of Education Standards and infrastructure.

Twin Streaming: Properly referenced, essentially two simultaneous conferences between the same two (or more) points, resulting in multiple signals, and multiple kinds of simultaneous content available at the same time. This process requires multiple conferencing capability and additional displays for maximum effectiveness.  This should not be confused with "Dual Packet Delivery". (SI)

Two-Way Interactive Video: Implicitely live interactive television signals that procede in two directions, allowing the instructor to observe and communicate with the students in the same way as the students interact with their instructor. A specialized form of ITV. (SI)

Video on Demand: The delivery of digital movies via cable, telephone, or wireless where the user has the ability to start and stop the movie at any time. (PBS)

Virtual University: A higher education institution that has no physical classrooms. Instruction iat a virtual university is delivered to students at-a-distance. (PBS)

Web-Based Training (WBT): Anytime, anywhere electronic or computer-supported instruction. Also called e-Learning. (PBS)

Web-Delivered Course: Class offering that is exclusively web-native in nature with no explicit physical contact. (SI)

Webcasting: Uses push technologies to simultaneously broadcast live video and/or audio via the Internet to multiple computers. The quality of Webcast reception can vary greatly and is highly dependent on bandwidth, harware quality, etc. (PBS)

Web-Enhanced Course: Class offering that is made up of at least some part of online web support, and some part in a traditional or ITV lecture format. (SI)

Definition Sources

Please note that the balance of definitions come from the 2003 TxDLA Orientation packet.

DEC = Distance Education Clearinghouse = http://www.uwex.edu/disted/h323.html
PBS = Public Broadcasting Service = http://www.pbs.org/als/dlweek/abc/indexuw.html
SI = The Science Initiative, Sul Ross State University = http://www.sulross.edu
USDLA = United States Distance Learning Association = http://www.usdla.org/html/resources/dictionary.htm
U - Idaho = University of Idaho Distance Education at a Glance = http://www.uidaho.edu/eo/distglan.html

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