Glossary

Terms commonly found in eLearning and Learning platforms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Accessibility
Accessibility for all learners is crucial. Accessibility means course content can be used by people with varying abilities and disabilities. eLearning content developers and instructional designers should aim to make courses clear, easy to understand, and simple to complete. Learners who suffer from sensory, intellectual or technological difficulties will need assistive technology to successfully access and complete their training courses. Please review 508 compliance.

Account

In the TOPYX LMS, Account refers to the User Account. The User Account is created when a user is registered to the TOPYX LMS. A user can be register to the LMS in several ways; self registration if allowed, manually by an Administrator or Manager, or bulk import using the TOPYX Import User template.

ADL (Advance Distributed Learning)

Advanced Distributed Learning is an initiative established by the US Department of Defense, aiming to make the delivery of online training consistent across content formats, technologies, and organizations. Notable contributions include SCORM and xAPI.

Administrator

In the TOPYX LMS, the Administrator Roles have the highest permission levels for access to all functionality within the LMS.

AMS (Association Management Software)

A AMS system manages all your association’s relationships and interactions with your current and future member. It helps you improve your profitability and retain members. Integrating your AMS with your LMS will enable you to pursue an extended enterprise learning program.

Announcements

These are notices that can be posted to the LMS and when made available, are listed under My Profile, Calendar and Community sections.

API

Application Programming Interface is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a Web-based software application or Web tool. A software company releases its API to the public so that other software developers can design products that are powered by its service.

Assessment

A question, exercise, test, quiz, or other evaluation of the learner's achievement in an eLearning application or of the learner's level of skill and knowledge before or after training.

Asynchronous Learning

Allows learners to train individually, enabling them to complete courses at a time, place and pace that suits them.

B

Badges

Badges are digital awards of achievement issued to individuals for learning or displaying skills and knowledge.

Blended Learning

Blended learning is the combination of traditional, face-to-face learning methods with technology-based online learning methods. It’s also be described as a blending of live training and self-paced training. It offers a great way to augment the learner’s experience.

BYOD (Bring your own device)

Bring Your Own Device is a policy whereby employees or members bring and use their own mobile, tablet or laptop device in a training or work setting. Most LMSes, are designed to be responsive and functional on any type of device, making it easy for learners and admins can access their training.

C

CEU (Continuing Education Unit)

A CEU is a measurement used in continuing education programs. Usually, the completion of a certain number of units allows individuals to remain licensed in their profession.

CBT (Classroom based Training)

Also known as face-to-face or live training, classroom-based training is a more traditional training method. The instructor guides learners through a course in a classroom or meeting room.

Cloud

Servers hosted on the Web and used for computation, data storage, and data management.

CMS (Content Management System)

A system that supports the creation and management of digital content, usually for publishing. A CMS is more passive than an LMS. Users can view documents but the CMS cannot track and report on their progress as an LMS does.

Compliance Training

Normally employee training mandated by legislation, regulation or policy. It educates your employees on the laws or regulations applicable to their job function or industry. These training initiatives are usually mandatory, with regular completion of the training required in order to achieve and maintain compliance.

Content Library

The content library is your repository of reusable content, like videos, documents, audio, question pools, SCORM and xAPI files, from which a course can be created.

Cookie

A small file placed on a user's computer by a visited Web page. E-Learning programs often store the student's name, history, and score information in a cookie.

Course

A collection of materials (lessons, sections, modules, media, resources, evaluation) that provide training on a given subject.

Course Authoring Tool

Often paired with an LMS, this software is used to develop content for online learning and training programs. An eLearning content authoring tool is a software package which content developers use to create and package eLearning course content using SCORM or xAPI standards. There are many popular authoring tools to choose from, including Adobe Captivate and the Articulate family of offerings.

Course Catalog

Items your learners have available to them to register or purchase such as materials, courses, programs, subscriptions.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

A customer relationship management system manages all your company’s relationships and interactions with your current and future customers. It helps you improve your profitability and retain customers. Integrating your CRM with your LMS will enable you to pursue an extended enterprise learning program. Examples include Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS is a markup language that defines the design of an HTML web-page. In very basic terms, HTML structures a page, while CSS controls how it looks. If you wish we can grant you access to your sites CSS to do your own branding.

CSV

Comma Separated Values: Files in the CSV format can be imported to and exported from programs that store data in tables, such as MS Excel. Its data fields are most often delimited by a comma.

Curriculum

A group or series of related courses.

D

Delivery Method

The instructional method used to deliver learning. Examples might include Instructor-Led Training (ILT), eLearning, and Webinar or blended learning. However, delivery methods are defined by your organization to suit your specific needs.

E

eLearning (Electronic Learning)

eLearning, or electronic learning, is the delivery of learning and training through digital resources. Although eLearning is based on formalized learning, it’s provided through electronic devices such as computers, tablets and even cellular phones that are connected to the internet. This makes it easy for users to learn anytime, anywhere, with few, if any, restrictions.

F

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

A list of most often asked questions from learners provided to address common issues. FAQs allow learners to get the information they need without having to contact the vendor directly.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A standard network protocol used to transfer computer files from one host to another host such as the Internet.

G

Gamification

The insertion of game mechanics into a process that is not itself a game. In eLearning, it takes the form of points, badges, and leaderboards used to engage and motivate learners.

GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)

A file format for graphic files to display on Web pages, and the filename extension for such a file.

H

High Contrast Theme

This is useful for users who have an eye-sight disability as it heightens the color contrast of text, windows borders, and images on your screen. It helps to make the screen more visible and easier to read.

HRIS (Human Resource Information System)

This is a system which supports both human resources and information technology. It allows HR activities, records and processes to be held in this system. Integrating your HR system with your LMS facilitates user creation, maintenance, and learner record storage. There are usually several ways to do this and your IT usually shares with us their preference.

HTML5

HTML5 technology provides many tools to fill the gap left by the decline of Flash. HTML5 enables video and audio content to render directly in a browser. It’s also more efficient than Flash as it requires less processing power.

HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP is the foundation of communicating data over the internet. Hypertext is a structured text that uses logical links (hyperlinks) between nodes containing text. HTTPS is recommended as it adds a level of security.

I

iCal

iCalendar is a globally adopted format for sharing meeting requests. An LMS can send ILT invitations with an attached iCal invite so that your learners can save the session to their calendar.

ILT

Acronym for instructor led training. ILT is often contrasted with web-based training to mean live training in a physical classroom, with one person leading the class. It can also generically reference training led by one person in either a physical or virtual classroom.

IP Address

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. To learn more about your IP Address, please visit WhatIsMyIP.com.

J

JavaScript

JavaScript is the programming language of HTML and the web. Commands in JavaScript allow tasks to be completed by a browser when a user views a web page. JavaScript also manages communications between standards like SCORM or xAPI and an LMS.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG is a compression technique for color images. It can reduce image file sizes to about 5% of their original size, although some of the image detail is lost in the compression.

K

Knowledge Checks

Knowledge checks are used to measure retention or send along reinforcement/refresher training.

L

Learning Path

Learning paths are used to build structured learning programs that guide learners through a series of courses. They allow admins to control the timeframe in which courses are made available to learners and the order in which they’re completed.

LMS (Learning Management System)

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application that is used to create, manage, deliver and track training. A good LMS will allow you to deliver course content in a range of eLearning standards, sell online courses, assess and evaluate learner performance, deliver blended learning, brand or white label the LMS, integrate with third-party systems, and much more.

LRS (Learning Record Store)

A system that works with xAPI (Tin Can) to collect, store and retrieve statements that track learning experiences. Data stored by an LRS can be presented in a way that’s accessible and easy to interpret. The TOPYX LRS is included with the TOPYX Expanded offering.

LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability)

The primary purpose of the LTI standard, created by the IMS Global Learning Consortium, is to connect learning systems, such as an LMS, with external service tools. All levels of TOPYX support LTI.

M

Manifest File

The manifest is a nitty-gritty detail of SCORM. The SCORM package itself is a zip file that contains all of the content a course is made from, including media like SCOs (Shareable Content Objects), HTML and Flash files. The SCORM package also contains the manifest file which determines the structure and contents of the course. The name of the manifest is always imsmanifest.xml and the file must be located in the root of the zipped package. If the manifest file isn’t located in the root of the zip, the course isn’t valid SCORM content package and it’s likely you’ll run into issues when importing it into your LMS.

Microlearning

Is a way to deliver training to learners in bite-sized focused bursts. Usually scheduled to "drip" out and focused on one objective at a time.

Mobile Learning (mLearning)

This is learning that’s conducted on a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet. Mobile Learning can occur anywhere at any time. The movement from desktop to portable devices has had a big impact on the development of online learning content. Instructional designers increasingly need to develop responsive mobile learning content that can adapt to the many devices learners now use. TOPYX is built in responsive design to support Mobile Learning.

Module

A module can consist of any course material, such as a video, document, SCORM file, or an exam or survey.

N

Navigation

Describes how learners move through a course, website or document. Good instructional design should make navigation clear, simple and engaging for users, including completions and exiting of content.

O

Onboarding

This is the process of integrating a new employee, contractor, etc. into your organization and familiarizing them with the organization's processes. In TOPYX, Learning Paths are very popular for onboarding

Online Learning

Often used interchangeably with eLearning and web-based training. Any form of learning conducted on a computer and usually over the internet.

P

PCI (Payment Card Industry)

This describes whether or not a vendor is adhering to the appropriate industry standards of payment information collection and processing. If you’re selling courses online, it’s advisable to use an LMS that is PCI complaint and integrates with PCI compliant transaction engines.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG is a file format that supports lossless data compression. It was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), and is the most widely used lossless image compression format on the internet.

Prerequisites

Items that must be completed before the current Item can be attempted.

Q

Question Bank

A question bank (also known as a question pool) is a group of reusable questions from which a quiz or survey can be created.

R

Registration

To place a user's name on the planned list of participants in a specific scheduled offering.

Report

Data generated in HTM, CSV, XML, or PDF from a specific query.

Responsive Design

Responsive design is essential for software and courseware intended for use on mobile devices. It’s a type of web development that allows the appearance of a website to dynamically adapt to a range of screen sizes. A good LMS should be mobile responsive for the convenience of users.

Role

A role is a combination of one or more workflows/permissions in your LMS. One or more Roles comprise a User.

S

SaaS

An acronym for software-as-a-service. This term describes companies that host software and sell licenses to use it.

Scalability

Scalability refers to the extent to which an LMS can expand to handle a growing number of courses, concurrent users, and request response times. It’s an important requirement for organizations that intend to grow or have unpredictable usage patterns. Most companies need an LMS that’s flexible enough to adjust as numbers of admins and learners rise and fall.

SCO (Shareable Content Object)

A SCO is an industry standard term for “shareable content object” and is defined by a widely accepted eLearning development standard called SCORM. Just like a traditional textbook, an eLearning course may be made up of multiple content chapters.

SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model)

A set of technical standards for e-learning software products. SCORM tells programmers how to write their code so that it can “play well” with other e-learning software. It is the de facto industry standard for e-learning interoperability. Specifically, SCORM governs how online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) communicate with each other. SCORM is purely a technical standard.

SCORM package

A SCORM package is a zip file created for upload to a SCORM compliant LMS. The package is created by selecting the export to SCORM option in the authoring tool used to create course content. All the elements of the course (like text, images, video, navigation settings, quizzes) will be used to create the SCORM package. The package understands the SCORM protocol and can be reused and imported to any LMS that supports SCORM.

SSL – (Secure Socket Layer)

A method used to secure and encrypt sensitive information like credit cards, usernames, passwords, and other private data sent over the Internet. Website pages secured with SSL are those branded with the HTTPS in their URL address.

SSO (Single Sign-On)

Single Sign on or SSO is a single set of credentials that allows users to access multiple applications in your organization while only needing to log in once. When SSO is implemented, users don’t need to login to access applications, like your LMS, separately.

Synchronous Learning

Synchronous Learning is instructor-led learning (ILT) in a virtual classroom setting. During this kind of event, learners log on at the same time and an instructor guides the class.

T

Tin Can (xAPI)

xAPI (Experience API, formerly Tin Can) is often seen as the next evolution of SCORM. xAPI redefined some of the fundamental practices of tracking learning experiences. The major difference between xAPI and SCORM is the type of learning each can track. While SCORM is limited to recording online learning, xAPI can track almost any activity. xAPI delivers a far more detailed view of learner progress, both online and offline. The kinds of learning xAPI tracks include reading a webpage, attending an event, blended learning, team-based learning, etc.

U

UI (User Interface or UX - user experience)
The user Interface is the means by which the user and a computer system interact. In particular, how does the software look and how does the user interact with it.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A URL is informally known as a web address. If you are using a web-based LMS, you will usually be given a sub-domain such as companyname.learnupon.com.

V

VR (Virtual Reality)

Virtual Reality or VR is a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world. It is created by surrounding the user of the VR system within an environment, sound, and other stimuli. It provides an engrossing sense of immersion, imagination, and interaction to increase engagement. VR is becoming more prevalent in eLearning as instructional designers work towards making more engaging content for learners.

W

Waitlist

A list of users trying to register for a scheduled offering that has already reached a maximum capacity.

White-Labelling

With white-labeling, you have the ability to remove .learnupon.com from your sub-domain. You also remove all traces of your LMSs branding and set up a personalized reply-to from email address. For some companies, simply branding an LMS isn’t enough. Those companies use the white-label feature to remove all indications that a platform wasn’t developed in-house.

X

xAPI

xAPI or the experience API (and formerly known as Tin Can), is a specification for learning technologies that makes it possible to collect data about the wide range of learning experiences a person has, both online and offline.

Y

Z

Zoom conferencing
TOPYX intrgrates with Zoom Pro via LTI.