Glossary of Terms

Distance Learning Terms

Asynchronous: Use of the web site is available at any time.

Chat Room: A chat room is an electronic room where students and/or the Instructor can talk to each other at the same time just like in a campus classroom.

Courseware: A computer software program that is used to store course information Blackboard (Bb) and Web CT are two common courseware packages.

Digital Drop Box: The digital drop box is used to exchange electronic files such as homework assignments.

Document: Document is a term used to describe work that is created on the computer. For example, writing a report in Microsoft Word creates a document when it is saved as a file with a name.

Double Click: An action on the mouse that tells the computer to perform a function. This is done by clicking two consecutive times on the left mouse button. A picture of an hourglass will appear that shows it is opening the selected button.

File: File is another term for document. It refers to an individual piece of work that is created. Every report written will be its own file when saved under a name.

File Folder: In Microsoft Windows, file folders are used to organize materials. When writing a report for a class, make a file folder and store all course materials in one place on the computer for easy access. There are also file folders that contain computer programs or graphics (pictures).

Hybrid Course: A college course taught partially on-campus and partially at a distance. Two possible ways are on the NCIH or the Internet.

Internet (World Wide Web or Net): a network that links computer networks all over the world by satellite and telephone, connecting users with service networks such as email and the World Wide Web

Login: A name or code that is used to enter a computer program. A login is unique for each person.

Menu (Dropdown Menu): A computer menu (also called a dropdown menu) is like a restaurant menu that lists options (or tasks) to choose from. Saving, printing, editing, and formatting are all tasks found in computer menus. Menu options in Blackboard are shown in the oval boxes on the left side of the screen.

Microsoft Windows: Microsoft Windows is the operating system (manager) for the computer.

Online: The term online means that the coursework or communication is being conducted while the computer is hooked to the Internet.

Operating System: The operating system is the computer's manager. The operating system's job is to make both the computer's hardware and the software work together.

Password: A unique code that is provided to access protected computer programs. Registered distance learning students will receive a password from the college or Instructor. This information need not be shared with others.

Players & Plug-Ins: A computer software program that can be downloaded into a computer to read a computer file. Players and plug-ins add more software to a computer.

Point and Click: To "point and click" on an object, move the mouse pointer (arrow on the computer screen) to rest on top of the virtual object, then click the left mouse button once or twice to begin using the feature.

Printer: The printer is a separate piece of equipment that prints a hard copy of the computer file or image. It is attached to the computer with a cord and adapter that sends a signal from the computer to the printer and to the wall or surge protector with an electric cord plugged into an electric outlet.

Program: Programs are part of the computer's software. PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word are examples of computer programs.

Satellite Site: A college classroom that is located off the main college campus.

Scroll Bar: Scroll bars appear when a paper or an image is too big to be completely visible on the monitor. Scroll bars can be seen on the right hand side or bottom of the screen. To use a scroll bar point and click on one of the black arrows at either end of the scroll bar.

Software: Software programs are designed to perform specific types of tasks. For example, Microsoft Word is a word processing program used to write papers. Microsoft PowerPoint is used to create presentations with graphs, charts, and text. Only certain types of software programs can be used (compatibility) with your operating system.

Synchronous: Use of the web site is available only at a particular time.

Toolbar: Toolbars contain icons that are related to specific tasks. Toolbars may look differently in each software program. Common icons that are found in toolbars include Open, Save, Print, and Paste.

Web Site: A web site is an electronic set of information labeled with a title that typically begins with the "www." Each Blackboard course has its own web site.

Window: Every time a new program is opened a new window is created. Windows can be different sizes and moved around the screen for easy viewing. Window or program buttons for the programs opened will appear at the bottom of the screen, near the Start button.

Computer Terms

Button: Buttons are small pictures that look three-dimensional. There is an example of a button on the bottom left-hand corner of the computer screen. There is a button that says, "Start". Buttons are used in many programs. Click on them with the mouse to use them.

CD Drive: The CD drive is identical to the ones that are used to play music compact disks. The CD drive is used to load large programs on to the computer's hard drive. On a desktop computer the CD drive is housed in the tower or box that comes with the monitor. In a laptop it will be found on the front or sides of the computer. An open/close button will be next to the drive.

Cell: Worksheets in the software program Microsoft Excel are divided into cells. The cell with the dark lines around it is the active cell.

Column: In tables and spreadsheets, information is listed vertically in columns.

Commands: This word describes all the various tasks that can be performed in a program. Some examples of commands are open, exit, cut, copy, and undo.

Cursor: The cursor is the blinking vertical line that appears in the document area in Microsoft Word or in a text box in Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint. Typing on the keyboard causes the letters to appear by the cursor.

Desktop: When first turning on a computer there is a screen called the desktop. It's called the "desktop" because its purpose is like the top of a desk or table. It contains icons of commonly used programs.

Dialog Box: Dialog boxes are used to gather more information about a command. For example, a Print dialog box will include information about how many copies will be printed. Another example is a dialog box that appears when a program is closed. This box asks the user if the changes made are to be saved.

Document Area: In Microsoft Word the blank, white portion of the screen is called the Document Area.

DVD Drive: New computers sometimes come with a DVD drive. See the information about the CD drive to locate the DVD drive.

Floppy Drive (A: drive): The A: drive is used to backup files on to floppy disks. Saving work on to a disk allows users to take the work so that it can be worked on using another computer. Work saved to a floppy also creates a backup. A backup is useful in case there are problems with your hard drive. The floppy drive will be located on the tower or box that comes with the monitor or on the front of the laptop computer.

Hard Drive: The hard drive is the part of the computer that stores information. The hard drive contains all the computer programs you use and the files that you create. The hard drive is located inside the box (or tower) that comes with the desktop (monitor/screen). On a laptop, it is in the base on the computer.

Hardware: Hardware refers to all the physical parts of the computer. This might include a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, speakers, and hard drive.

Highlight: When placing the mouse pointer (arrow) on the screen on an image or word they will be highlighted. This is similar to highlighting a word with a highlighter pen so that it stands out from the surrounding words.

Icon: Icons are pictures of programs and files. Icons are used to make it easy to find programs or documents on the computer. Icons are found on the desktop.

Keyboard: The keyboard is the platform with the number and letter keys. It is attached to the tower or horizontal box that contains your hard drive.

Layout: In Microsoft PowerPoint, a layout must be chosen for each slide. The layout may include several features, including space for a title, a table, or a chart. A blank layout can be used as the first step, followed by adding additional features such as background color or clip art.

Menu Bar: At the top of every program a list of commands and this row is called the Menu Bar. Each of these commands contains a number of related commands. For example, the File Menu contains commands to open, save, and exit files.

Microsoft Access (Access): A database program that is used to organize information. An address book and a library catalog are both examples of databases.

Microsoft Excel (Excel): A spreadsheet program that is used to organize information, especially numbers. Excel can be used to make charts and graphs.

Microsoft PowerPoint (PowerPoint): A program that is used to create presentations. Digital images, charts, graphs, text, and tables often used in PowerPoint.

Microsoft Word (Word): A program used to type papers. Word is sometimes called a "word processing" program.

Modem: The modem is located inside the computer. When connected to a phone line by a cable, the modem enables the computer to connect to the Internet.

Monitor: The monitor is the blue colored screen seen when the computer is turned on. It has its own on and off button that is usually located in the lower right corner.

Mouse: The mouse allows changes or edits to be made to a computer file without knowing computer code. With a desktop computer the mouse looks like a small bar of soap and is attached to your computer with a thin cord. The mouse is used by simply placing the right hand on the top of it and moving it around slowly on the mouse pad. With a laptop computer the mouse may be a red button or small black screen or a sensor pad located in the middle your keyboard. Look for an arrow on the screen that illustrates what the computer is reading. The arrow is called the mouse pointer.

Row: In tables and spreadsheets, information is listed horizontally in rows.

Slide: In Microsoft PowerPoint each page is called a slide. To add a new slide go to the Insert Menu on the Menu Bar and choose New Slide.

Text Box: Text boxes are graphic objects and can be moved anywhere on the page. Text boxes are available in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Toolbars: Toolbars contain different icons that represent different commands or options and can be found at the bottom and top of a program window. Common icons that appear on a toolbar include a disk (save) and an open file folder (open).

Worksheet: Microsoft Excel documents contain one or more worksheets. Movement from one worksheet to another in Excel happens by clicking on the tabs found in the lower left-hand corner of the program window.

Computer Commands

Edit Menu: Contains commands to help rearrange your work in documents. Commands found under the Edit Menu include cut, copy, paste, delete, and find.

Exit: Closes down a program. It is found under the File Menu.

File Menu: Contains commands that let you open, close, save, and print your work.

Copy: Allows copying of highlighted text or images. Then they can be pasted someplace else. This command is found under the Edit Menu.

Cut: Allows cutting of highlighted text or images. Then, they can be pasted in some place else. This command is found under the Edit Menu.

Open: Opens a previously saved file. This command is found under the File Menu.

Paste: Allows pasting of the last object that was copied or cut. This command is found under the Edit Menu.

Print: Allows work to be printed. There is a choice to print some or all of it. This command is found under the File Menu.

Save: Allows work to be saved. This command is found under the File Menu.

Shutdown: The computer should be shutdown before turning off the power button. The shutdown command can be found by clicking on the Start Menu at the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

Start Menu: This menu will be visible on the desktop. Clicking on the Start Menu with the mouse will open programs, view documents you recently had open, and shutdown the computer.

Undo: Allows the last action to be undone. This command is found under the Edit Menu.

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