Technology Terms Glossary

  • Add Ons- Google Add Ons: Add-ons are scripts that run inside Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Forms, but they're built by users. (cooltools4schools)

  • App- Simply put, an app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, while those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. (GFCGlobal)

  • Asynchronous- asynchronous learning occurs through online channels without real-time interaction.

  • Back-End User- A Back-End User has the ability to edit content on the website in any capacity, whether on a page or in a module.

  • Blended Learning- blended learning is any formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace. (Blended Learning Universe)

  • Bloom's Taxonomy- A Taxonomy of the promotion of higher order thinking in education esp. instead of rote learning. Check out this helpful PDF of Action Verbs.

  • Cloud Computing - Cloud computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet. These resources include tools and applications like data storage, servers, databases, networking, and software. (Investopedia)

  • Chrome OS-Google Chrome OS is an open source lightweight operating system (OS). It uses one-sixtieth as much hard drive space as Windows 7 and is intended for netbooks or tablet PCs that access Web-based applications and stored data from remote servers. (TechTarget)

  • Chromebook- Unlike most computers, Chromebooks do not run Windows. Instead, they use Chrome OS, which is similar to the Google Chrome web browser. This means you can use a Chromebook to do just about anything you'd normally do online: read websites, check your email, watch online videos, and so on. (GCF Global)

  • COPPA- imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age. It is important as an educator to know the law. Ask your district IT coordinators before using any new applications. (FTC)

  • Differentiation- Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Whether teachers differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, the use of ongoing assessment and flexible grouping makes this a successful approach to instruction. (Carol Ann Tomlinson)

  • Digital Citizenship-Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level. (Applied Educational Systems)

  • Extension- extensions are small software programs that customize the browsing experience. They fulfill a single purpose that is narrowly defined and easy to understand. A single extension can include multiple components and a range of functionality, as long as everything contributes towards a common purpose. (Chrome)

  • FERPA-The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."(U.S. Dept. of Education)

  • Flipped Classroom- A flipped classroom is a type of blended learning where students are introduced to content at home and practice working through it at school. This is the reverse of the more common practice of introducing new content at school, then assigning homework and projects to completed by the students independently at home. (TeachThought)

  • Fremium-a portmanteau of the words "free" and "premium", is a pricing strategy by which a product or service is provided free of charge, but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical (offline) goods that expand the functionality of the free version of the software. (Wikipedia)

  • Front-End User- A Front-End User has view-only access to the content on the website; they cannot edit. For example, an Intranet-User is a front-end user.

  • Google Chrome- Google Chrome is a multi-faceted search engine. It can be used on computers as well as mobile devices. It is free to download and use. Business Insider has an inclusive article explaining Chrome.

  • Google Drive-Google Drive is a cloud storage service, and like all cloud services, its primary function is to take some load off your hard drive. Cloud storage works by uploading your files to its own remote servers — or the “cloud” — freeing up space on your computer. This leaves more space on your devices for more important things, like installing large apps and games. (Cloudward)

  • Handle-In the online world, a handle is another word for a username. It can refer to the name you use in chat rooms, web forums, and social media services like Twitter (techterms.com).

  • Hashtag- A hashtag, introduced by the number sign, or hash symbol, #, is a type of metadata tag used on social networks such as Twitter and other microblogging services. It lets users apply dynamic, user-generated tagging that helps other users easily find messages with a specific theme or content (Wikipedia). Check out this Article that discusses all the different uses for a hashtag.

  • International Society for Technology in Education- (I.S.T.E.)

  • I.S.T.E. Standards-The ISTE Standards are a framework for innovation in education. These standards help educators and education leaders worldwide prepare learners to thrive in work and life. (ISTE)

  • LMS- Learning Management System- these can be provided only within your school's network or though the cloud and vary in cost. Check out Top Ten Education LMS for 2020 for some more background in LMS and a list of technologies. (Tutorroom)

  • Makerspace Program- assists students and teachers with creating DIY projects using technology in the classroom. The Maker movement is gaining steam because of its success with the kinesthetic learning model. In addition, some schools are beginning to incorporate coding in the classroom as early as elementary school, citing not only gains in technical knowledge for students but also meta-cognitive skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and logical thinking. (Modern Learners)

  • Netiquette-Netiquette is short for "Internet etiquette." Just like etiquette is a code of polite behavior in society, netiquette is a code of good behavior on the Internet. (techterms.com)

  • Personalized Learning- Very broadly speaking, the idea is to customize the learning experience for each student according to his or her unique skills, abilities, preferences, background, and experiences. (Education Week)

  • The Three Dots- (Chrome menu icon) on the browser toolbar at the top right. This icon is a box with three vertical dots.

  • TPACK Framework-TPACK is a technology integration framework that identifies three types of knowledge instructors need to combine for successful edtech integration—technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (a.k.a. TPACK). While TPACK is often compared with the SAMR Model, they are very different in scope. (Schoology)

  • Transformative Technology: the Transformation level results in alteration, restructuring, and reorganizing at the fundamental levels of education. Those participating in Maker programs or coding in the classroom are experiencing these kinds of changes [...]the technology itself has the capability to bring about widespread change. (Modern Learners)

  • Triple E Framework- A framework for educators to measure how well technology tools integrated into lessons are helping students engage in, enhance and extend learning goals. Learning First, Technology Second #tripleE (Triple E Framework- Kolb)

  • SAMR Model- (Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition)-The SAMR Model for integrating technology into teaching, developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, has gained a good deal of exposure in recent years. “SAMR” is an acronym that stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. The SAMR model provides a technique for moving through degrees of technology adoption to find more meaningful uses of technology in teaching and move away from simply using “tech for tech’s sake” (Kelly Walsh)

  • SEL-social emotional learning

  • Synchronous- Synchronous learning is online or distance education that happens in real time, whereas asynchronous learning occurs through online channels without real-time interaction.

  • Waffle- The 'Waffle' is the grid of nine small grey boxes that you find in the top right corner of your browser when you are using Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Keep etc. ... Google themselves do not call it the 'Waffle' – they refer to it as the App Launcher icon. (digitaltechnologies.education)

  • Webb's Depth of Knowledge- Depth of Knowledge or DoK is another type of framework used to identify the level of rigor for an assessment. In 1997, Dr. Norman Webb developed the DoK to categorize activities according to the level of complexity in thinking. The creation of the DoK stemmed from the alignment of standards to assessments. Standardized assessments measured how students think about a content and the procedures learned but did not measure how deeply students must understand and be aware of a learning so they can explain answers and provide solutions, as well as transfer what was learned in real world contexts (Francis, 2017). Check out this post about Webb's DoK from Edutopia!

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