Online Learning Glossary

Once you enter the world of online learning, it can be difficult to catch up on the lingo being thrown around by professors and other students. US News Report has put together a helpful glossary to stay up to date with the online learning language. These are a few of the definitions included.

Asynchronous: Learning in which interaction between instructors and students occurs intermittently with a time delay. Students in asynchronous courses are not required to log in at a specific time to watch a lecture or participate in a discussion, but rather can do their work on their own schedule.

Learning Management System (LMS): The platform where students can view their syllabus, learn how to contact their professor and access most course materials, including online readings, videos, audio files and other resources. In some systems, students can also email and message their classmates and instructors. Common learning management systems include Blackboard, Moodle and Desire2Learn.

Proctoring: Online students can be monitored by proctors both in person, if their program requires that they take tests at a specific location, or online, via webcam. Proctoring aims to combat cheating by ensuring students are who they say they are.”

The entire glossary can be found on US News and World report.