Learning Media Glossary (Clive Shephard)

Chat rooms provide synchronous communication capabilities for large numbers of users within the context of a web site. Most Internet chat rooms are open to all comers, but in the context of a virtual learning environment (VLE) or learning management system (LMS), access is usually restricted.

Dialogue in chat rooms is usually restricted to text and sometimes emoticons (little pictures representing different emotions).

Chat sessions can be usefully employed in online, distance learning courses to allow for real-time group collaboration.

DVD Video is a device for playing back high quality digital video along with its accompanying soundtrack. DVDs have much greater capacity than standard CDs, which makes it possible for entire feature films to be contained on single discs. Interactive capabilities make it possible for users to access segments of content by selecting from on-screen menus. In a learning context, DVD Video is likely to be used as a simple video playback medium, but could also be configured as an interactive device.

An interactive whiteboard is a writing surface which can capture writing electronically with the aid of a computer. Some interactive whiteboards also allow interaction with a projected computer image.

Email is the classic means for asynchronous online communication. Emails used to be constrained to plain text, but can now be formatted using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), allowing emails to have much of the functionality of web pages. Any type of digital file can be appended to an email as an attachment. Emails have obvious applications for tutor-learner and learner-learner contact.

Face-to-face, small group interaction may be facilitated or unfacilitated. It may take place in a classroom or any other setting.

Flash is an application from Macromedia (now part of Adobe), that is used primarily to add animation and interactivity to websites, without placing heavy demands on bandwidth. To view Flash in their browsers, users must have the correct version of the Flash plug-in installed on their PCs. Flash 'movies' can also be played back as stand-alone applications outside of a browser in an offline mode.

Flash is well suited to the display of interactive, multimedia educational materials.

Instant messaging is provided through one of a number of messaging applications (Windows/MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Messenger, AOL Messenger, etc.). All parties to the discussion must be using the same messaging application. Unlike a chat room, discussion is constrained to a user's pre-defined contacts, with whom the user can communicate whenever the messaging software detects they are online.

Although most instant messaging is in text, it is becoming increasingly common for communication to be extended to voice (see 'VOIP') and picture (with the aid of a webcam).

Interactive television provides the same capabilities as traditional, analogue television but is also capable of delivering highly interactive multimedia programming including games and quizzes. Interactive television can be delivered off-air (as with Freeview), by satellite or fibre-optic cable.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a digital format for distributing documents created using a wide variety of applications (Word, Excel, Access, Quark, etc.) without the user needing to have a copy of these applications. To view PDF files, users need a copy of Adobe's free Acrobat Reader. To create PDF files requires a full version of Acrobat.

In a learning context, PDF files are most typically used to publish Word and desktop-published documents online for learners to download and print.

PowerPoint is a Microsoft software application for the design and delivery of speaker-support slides. With more than 300 million users worldwide and 30 million PowerPoint presentations delivered each day, Microsoft now dominates this market. PowerPoint was originally designed for the creation of 35mm and OHP slides, but these days the slides are typically projected directly from a computer.

In an educational context, PowerPoint can be used as a means for teachers to support their classes with visual aids, and as a way for students to present the results of their projects. PowerPoint slides can also be used as stand-alone handouts and reference material.

A simulator is a device used in training to reproduce the conditions of the working situation, enabling tasks to be learned and practised safely and economically. Common examples are flight and driving simulators.

Streaming is a technology for delivering audio and video in real-time on web sites. Rather than users having to wait for large audio and video files to download before they can be played back, streaming allows playback to commence almost immediately. Streaming media solutions are provided by Microsoft (Windows Media Services), Real Systems (RealServer), Apple (Quicktime Streaming Server) and Adobe (Flash Media Server).

'The real world' means, in this sense, away from formal learning settings and media. It provides the backdrop for all our informal learning as well as opportunities for project work.

A virtual classroom is form of web conferencing that integrates many real-time online communication facilities, including text chat, slide presentations, audio/video conferencing, electronic whiteboards and application sharing. Virtual classrooms differ only marginally from mainstream web conferencing, in that they integrate with learning management systems and can provide features such as interactive questions, activities in syndicate groups and evaluation forms.

Virtual classrooms can be used to host one-to-one coaching, small group discussions, classes and seminars (often labelled as 'webinars'). Sessions rarely last longer than an hour.

The most popular virtual classroom packages are Centra, Interwise, Webex and Microsoft LiveMeeting and Breeze.

Web pages are documents which form the building blocks of web sites and, in a wider context, the World Wide Web (or intranets). They are formatted using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Web pages can include text, images, audio, video, animation, links and forms.  The capabilities of web pages can be further extended by the use of JavaScript (program code embedded in the HTML), Java applets (add-on programs) and plug-ins, such as Flash. Web pages can be created in advance of their use or generated on-the-fly by computer programs residing on the web server (the computer that hosts the website).