Asynchronous - communication in which interaction between parties does not take place simultaneously. Asynchronous learning is usually referred to as learning anytime, anyplace.

Bandwidth - information-carrying capacity of a communication channel.

Browser - software that allows one to display pages from the World Wide Web.

Computer Conferencing - a form of distance learning where faculty and students create and respond to questions, messages, or articles; sometimes a "threaded," or connected discussion takes place.

Course Management System - a software program, such as Blackboard, that contains the features necessary for a student to take a Web-based or web-enhanced class - email, discussion areas, assignment area, assessments, chat, and external links.

Dial Up - a network connection made by placing a call to a telecommunications device that is connected to the Internet or some other service.

Discussion Forum - a place on the Internet which revolves around a common theme, such as the Beltway Sniper, and to which users are drawn because of their common interest; an assembly of documents or notes about a given topic on the Internet.

eNOVA - NVCC's online, real-time student learning environment where students can interact with faculty and other students as part of the learning process. eNOVA provides real-time two-way audio, application sharing, web browsing, white-boarding, and text chatting. Once you have registered for a course that uses eNOVA, you will need a PC computer, Internet connection, Internet browser, speakers, microphone, and a NVCC-provided username and password.

Face-to-Face - term used to describe the traditional classroom environment.

Home Page - a document with an address (URL) on the world wide web maintained by a person or organization which contains pointers to other pieces of information.

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) - code used to create a home page and used to access documents over the WWW.

Listserv - an e-mail program that allows multiple computer users to connect onto a single system, creating an on-line discussion.

Netiquette - people navigating in a virtual environment must follow proper protocols and have good online "manners" generally known as netiquette, or etiquette on the Net.

ISP - Internet service provider, a service needed by users who are going to access the Internet from home or work unless they are connected directly to the Internet through a local area network (LAN). Examples are AOL, Erol's.

Server - a computer with a special service function on a network, generally receiving and connecting incoming information traffic.

Synchronous - communication in which interaction between participants is simultaneous.

Virtual Classroom - an online discussion forum where most of the conversations relating to the coursework take place (either synchronously or asynchronously).