Glossary of terms


Moodle: Acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is a free software e-learning platform, also known as a Learning Management System (LMS), or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
LMS: Learning management system.
Platform:  The online facility or learning environment in which learning occurs, including the tools necessary to deliver and support learning.

Enrolment:

The ways in which students enrol on courses depends on their organizational structure. Some courses allow students to self-enrol, while others require them to be enrolled manually by their teacher, or automatically by LMS.
Course: Courses are pages or areas within Moodle in which teachers present modules and their associated activities to students. Although they can have different layouts, they usually include a number of central sections in which modules are displayed, as well as side menus offering extra features or information.
Module: Sub-component of an e-learning course made up of a number of activities.
Lecture: A lesson within a module. ITC lectures are usually comprised of a number of slides, along with videos and whiteboard animations. Most of the educational content of a module is contained in lectures.
Case study exercise: Case study exercises include a short scenario and associated questions. The answers given to the questions are used to evaluate the grades awarded to participants to determine whether they successfully complete modules or not.

Asynchronous discussion forum:

In ITC modules, asynchronous discussion forums consist of a single discussion thread moderated and directed by tutors. All course participants can freely participate in the discussion forum, and a minimum of 1 forum post is required for a participant to successfully complete a module.
Questionnaire: Some ITC courses include questionnaires for participants, with the aim of gathering data for statistical purposes and future improvement of course offerings. Completion of the questionnaires is not mandatory for participants to successfully complete courses or modules.
SMExp.: Subject matter expert, a specialist in the content of a module, but not necessarily in pedagogy or LMS features.
Programme Manager: A staff member with a largely administrative function, whose job is to ensure that a course is effective, as well as effectively taught and studied. Programme Managers oversee the rules governing the conduct of courses, and make sure that course rules are correctly applied.
Tutor: Tutors coach course participants remotely during a module. This coaching can include managing the discussion forum, overseeing grades awarded, answering questions that participants might have, as well as any other duties necessary to ensure that participants have the necessary resources at their disposal to successfully complete the module.
Participant: A user registered to a course.
Certification: Participants who successfully complete and meet the requirements of all the module learning activities and assessments will receive a certificate issued by ITC.
Learning activities: Learning activities include lectures, case studies, quizzes, assignments, asynchronous and synchronous discussion forums, e-mail, private messaging, and any other interactions between participants and module/course contents, tutors, and other participants.
Learning resources: Learning resources include all supporting information not directly part of a course or module, including reference materials (documents), media (videos), websites, FAQs, glossaries etc.
Synchronous discussion forum (Chat): This function, present in some modules, allows participants to engage in a "live" discussion with other participants (synchronously).
TRTA:  Trade-related technical assistance.
TSI: Trade Support Institution. Synonymous with TISI (Trade and Investment Support Institution).
ECB Check: An accreditation and quality improvement scheme for E-Learning programmes and institutions in international capacity building. It is part of the European Foundation for Quality in e-Learning (EFQUEL).
CRM: Client relationship management.