Instructional Design: Analysis and prescription of optimal instructional methods.
Distance Education: Education facilitated by the communications media with little or no classroom or other face-to-face contact between students and teachers.
Electronic Learning: Using electronic devices, applications, or processes to acquire or transfer knowledge, attitudes, or skills through study, instruction, or experience. Although frequently associated with digital technologies, electronic learning may also utilize other electronic technologies. (Use this term instead of: eLearning, mLearning, Mobile Learning, Online Learning)
Virtual Classrooms: Teaching and learning environments located within computer-mediated communication systems that support collaborative learning among students, enabling participation at their own time, place and pace - these electronic virtual environments are meant to supplement or replace the physical class environment in support of classroom-like experiences, such as group discussion.
Educational Technology; Systematic identification, development, organization, or utilization of educational resources and/or the management of these processes -- occasionally used in a more limited sense to describe the use of equipment-oriented techniques or audiovisual aids in educational settings.
Learning Technologies: All of the above.
Associations:
Professional and trade associations offer unique insider perspectives on the world of their membership with industry reports and member surveys you will not find elsewhere. Here are a few for instructional technology worth considering:
National Organizations
EDUCAUSE A nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.
ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education Providing leadership and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education!
NMC - The New Media Consortium An international 501(c)3 not-for-profit consortium of nearly 300 learning-focused organizations dedicated to the exploration and use of new media and new technologies.
Online Learning Consortium Formerly the Sloan Consortium, is a professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of online learning worldwide. The member-sustained organization offers an extensive set of resources for professional development and institutional advancement of online learning.
UPCEA - University Professional and Continuing Education Association. Drexel-affiliated students, faculty and staff can request to join members-only discussion forums.
USDLA - United States Distance Learning Association Serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity.
Local PA/ NJ/ DE Organizations (as examples of what you might find in your area, wherever you may live)
PADLA - The Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey Distance Learning Association “PADLA serves the needs of the regional Distance/e-Learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking, and opportunity.”
PETE&C - The Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference A statewide event that provides quality programs focused on technology in the educational field.
Still can't find your special statistic or fact?
Other associations can be found in the Library database Encyclopedia of Associations.
For a sample of the content in SkillSoft try the following links on related topics:
For scholarly articles, see the following databases.
Instructional Design Resources
Accessibility and Universal Design
Images and Media
