Glossary

Adult Education. The field of education that serves adult learners and includes formal programs, such as post secondary credit courses or continuing professional education, and nonformal programs, such as workshops, and workplace training

Adult Retraining. Usually refers to a program to enable adults to develop new job-related skills that are in demand in the workplace

Adult Upgrading. Programs that enable adults to fill in the gaps in their earlier education, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy

Adult Basic Education (ABE) Programs that enable adults to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills, to the level normally attained at the completion of elementary school

Asynchronous communication. Refers to communication in which the sender is transmitting the message at a different time than the recipient is receiving it. For example, a letter sent through the postal mail is received some time after the writer sends it.

ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A high speed networking technology for broadband communications

Audioconferencing. Telephone based conference that includes more than two sites: often sites are linked by a bridge or series of bridges that interconnect sites so that all participants can hear and speak to each other.

Audiographics. A computer based system that provides computer generated graphics over telephone lines, to accompany voice messages provided by audio conference

Broadband systems. A range of communications services that require more bandwidth than traditional voice messaging. Broadband can transmit video images, and data, as well as sound.

Cable system. The system of delivering television signals to homes through a series of satellite receive dishes that are connected to a local network of co-axial (high capacity) cable.

Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) The Canadian government agency that develops and enforces regulations governing broadcasting, cable and telephone systems, in accordance with policies developed by the federal government.

Computer Conferencing. A computer-based discussion system which enables participants to contribute written ideas, then transmitted as computer mail. Conferencing software sets up discussion topics and linkages so that participants can follow the threads within a discussion, or begin a new discussion on a related topic.

Computer Hardware. Generally refers to the computer equipment, such as the processor, keyboard, monitor, printer, connecting cables.

Computer Software. The electronically coded systems that "drive" the computer, and enable it to do specialized tasks, such as word processing, communications, drawing, and so on.

Continuing Education. Usually refers to forms of education for learners beyond the age of the cohort who complete their education in a continuum from elementary school to graduation. Continuing education can include programs related to professional training, formal credit programs, or interest courses.

Distance Education. A form of education in which learners and instructors may be in different locations, and be linked by various forms of communication, including print correspondence, telephone, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, computer communications. Learning materials may be provided in different media, including print, audiotape, videotape, computer based materials.

Educational Technologies. Refers to the group of technologies that can be used to support education. Depending on the context, educational technologies can include everything from blackboard and chalk to computer conferencing. In discussions about "new educational technologies", the term usually refers to electronically based systems for communication and information transfer, such as audio conferencing, audio graphics, videoconferencing, electronic mail, computer conferencing.

Educational Providers. Organizations, institutions and agencies that provide educational programs.

Electronic mail (e-mail). A communication system whereby a computer user can prepare a message and send it, using the electronic connections provided by a system such as Internet, to a computer user that is connected to the same system.