Formal education. Education offered by public or private educational institutions that follows specific courses or programs and provides recognized accreditation.

Freenet: An Internet server, usually organized on a cooperative basis by members, that provides Internet access to its members on a free or low cost basis.

Full time enrolment. The total number of students who are enrolled full time at an educational institution. Post secondary institutions may have different definitions of what constitutes full time study, in many cases it includes learners who take more than three courses in one term or semester.

Information Highway. Sometimes called the electronic highway. Refers to an advanced information and communications infrastructure that is expected to become a "network of networks" linking businesses, homes, governments and institutions, and provide a range of services including entertainment, education, cultural and social information, databanks, computing, electronic commerce, banking and business services. (Adapted from The Canadian Information Highway, Industry Canada, 1994)

Internet. A network of networks that links computers and enables transfer of information and, communication worldwide.

Internet Service Provider. An agency that has the hardware, software and communications systems to provide the bridge that links local computer users to the Internet.

Lifelong learning. A concept that learning can be expected to continue throughout human life, in response to identified learning needs that relate to training, interest, or skill development.

Modem A computer accessory that allows computers to communicate through telephone lines, converting data into the digital language of computers.

New Educational Technologies "New educational technologies" or new learning technologies usually refer to electronically based systems for communication and information transfer, such as audioconferencing, audiographics, videoconferencing, electronic mail, computer conferencing that can be used for educational purposes.

Non formal learning. A learning experience that does not lead to a specific accreditation. Non formal learning can include a range of situations, from interest courses offered by educational providers, to an individual's learning project pursued for personal interest.

Open learning. A system that provides more flexible access to learning than is usually available through conventional classroom-based instruction. It can include a variety of strategies, such as materials that learners use at home, access to tutorial help on a "drop-in" basis: computer programs that learners can access at a local centre at their own convenience.

Part time enrolment. The total number of learners who study part time, as it is defined by the educational institution; in many universities, includes those who are studying three courses or less in a given term or semester.

Post Secondary Education. The post secondary system in Canada comprises universities, colleges, university-colleges, technical institutes.

Real time Transmission. The transfer of data, voice or video images so that the sender is transmitting it at the same time that the recipient is receiving it. For example, a telephone , conversation happens through real time transmission, but a message sent by computer mail does not require the recipient to pick it up while it is being transmitted.

Satellite Transmission. Sending data, voice or images by means of an electronic signal that is beamed from an large transmitter, called an uplink, to antennas on a geostationary satellite that is moving at the same speed as the earth's rotation and is thus in a fixed position over a specific region of the globe. The signal is then transferred from the satellite's antenna to satellite receive dishes on earth.

Training. Programs that are focused on skill development that enable learners to attain trade or professional qualifications, or to meet the skill levels required of a specific type of job

Universal Education. The principle that all members of the population have the right to education to a certain specified level, and/or between specified ages.

Videoconferencing. A system of transmitting video and sound images between two or more sites that enables participants at all sites to see and hear each other. The signal may be transmitted by satellite or by land lines, usually through the telephone system, depending on the equipment and networks available in a particular region.

World Wide Web. A system that uses the Internet for providing access to a wide range of information by linking documents that can include texts, graphic, sounds. An individual or organization provides information in a format especially designed for the web on what is called a Webpage. Software, known as search engines, enables users to find sites using keywords or phrases. The process could be compared to looking through a giant encyclopedia with pictures, with pages contributed from people all over the world.