SPLASH

Project Glossary

• Aggregator

  Two main types of aggregators: web-based aggregators and desktop/software aggregators. Web-based aggregators allow individuals to subscribe to feeds online and read feeds in a web browser. Desktop aggregators are software programs installed locally that updates when feeds are updated. The aggregator shows new information and allow for users to read feeds.
  www.feedforall.com/rss-glossary.htm

• API

  An application programming interface (API) is a set of definitions of the ways one piece of computer software communicates with another. It is a method of achieving abstraction, usually (but not necessarily) between lower-level and higher-level software.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/API

• ATOM feed

  Atom is an XML-based document format and HTTP-based protocol designed for the syndication of Web content such as weblogs and news headlines to Web sites as well asdirectly to user agents. It is based on experience gained in using the various versions of RSS. Critics have argued that it has merely created additional confusion.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_feed

• Blog

  A weblog (usually shortened to blog, but occasionally spelled web log) is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles (normally in reverse chronological order). Although most early weblogs were manually updated, tools to automate the maintenance of such sites made them accessible to a much larger population, and the use of some sort of browser-based software is now a typical aspect of "blogging".
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

• FOAF

  FOAF (Friend of a Friend) is a project for machine-readable modelling of homepage-like profiles and social networks.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOAF_%28software%29

• E-learning

  A process that facilitates education using a network (Internet, LAN or WAN).
  www.onlinedegreezone.com/distance-learning_terms.php

• HTTP

  The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the set of rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) on the World Wide Web.
  www.pacific.net.au/customer_support/glossary/

• IPR

  Intellectual Property Rights

• JISC

  The mission of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) is to provide world-class leadership in the innovative use of Information and Communications Technology to support education and research.
  www.jisc.ac.uk/

• LDAP

  Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, is an Internet protocol that email and other programs use to look up information from a server.

• Learning outcome

  A statement which clearly identifies the skills, knowledge and/or understanding that a learner will be able to demonstrate as a result of successfully completing an identified part of a learning programme…
  www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearningpedagogy/pblxp.aspx

• Lifelong learning

  Idea that learning can and does occur beyond the formal structure of an educational institution and occurs throughout one's lifetime.
  www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/l/

• LMS

  Learning Management System.

• MINTED

  Moodle Integration with Enterprise Data, a previous JISC funded project successfully completed by the University of Sussex.

• MIS

  Management Information Systems.
  e.g. University of Sussex central Oracle database

• PHP

  An open-source, server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages.
  uk.php.net

• PLE

  Personal Learning Environment.

• Portal

  A website offering a wide variety of resources, services and links, especially one offering services within a particular industry, occupation or field or customizing services to a particular audience.
  gondolin.rutgers.edu/MIC/text/how/catalog_glossary.htm

• RDF

  The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a general framework for how to describe any Internet resource such as a Web site and its content.
  www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RDF.html

• RSS/RSS feed

  RSS is a family of XML file formats for web syndication used by news websites and weblogs. They are used to provide items containing short descriptions of web content together with a link to the full version of the content. This information is delivered as an XML file called RSS feed, webfeed, RSS stream, or RSS channel.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_Feed

Usability

Usability is a quality attribute that assesses how easy user interfaces are to use. The word "usability" also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process.
Usability is defined by five quality components:


• Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
• Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
• Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they re-establish proficiency?
• Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
• Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
There are many other important quality attributes. A key one is utility, which refers to the design's functionality: Does it do what users need? Usability and utility are equally important: It matters little that something is easy if it's not what you want. It's also no good if the system can hypothetically do what you want, but you can't make it happen because the user interface is too difficult. To study a design's utility, you can use the same user research methods that improve usability.
www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html

• VLE

  Virtual Learning Environment.

• Web 2.0

  Web 2.0 is a term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users. Ultimately Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many purposes.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

• Web syndication

  Web syndication is a form of syndication in which a section of a website is made available for other sites to use. This could be simply by licensing the content so other people can use it, but more commonly these days web syndication refers to making Web feeds available from a site so other people can display an updating list of content from it (for example one's latest forum postings, etc.). This originated with news and blog sites but is increasingly used to syndicate any information.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_syndication

• Wiki

  A wiki (pronounced , or ; see Pronunciation below) is a web application that allows users to add content, as on an Internet forum, but also allows anyone to edit the content. Wiki also refers to the collaborative software used to create such a website (see Wiki software).
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIKI