Glossary of Kansas Online Education Terms

As you learn more about Kansas online education, you may run into some unfamiliar distance learning terms. Here are definitions for the most common online education terms.

• Asynchronous environment - a communication medium in which there is a lag between when a message is posted or sent and when it is read or received. Email and discussion board posts are both examples of asynchronous environments.
• Bachelor's degree - a degree given after the completion of high school that typically requires 120 credit hours. On average, bachelor's degrees require approximately four years of full-time coursework.
• Course management system (CMS) - a web-based software that Kansas online education institutions use to facilitate learning. The software provides a way for schools and instructors to distribute, develop, and manage course-related materials and information.
• Diploma mill - an online learning institution without the proper accreditation that bestows diplomas and degrees for a certain fee without ensuring that students are qualified to receive the degree. Diploma or degree mills typically require little or no actual learning and study.
• Face to face (F2F) - a phrase that describes the conventional learning environment where students and professors are able to communicate in person and are not separated by time or geography.
• Graduate student - a Kansas online education student who has already earned a bachelor's degree or a first-level professional degree and is pursuing a master's or doctoral degree.
• Netiquette - the protocol that governs one's conduct on the Internet. An example of poor netiquette would be using a color or size of font that is difficult to read in online communication.
• Non-traditional student - the National Center for Education Statistics defines a non-traditional student as someone who attends Kansas online education less than full time, works 35 hours per week or more, has dependents aside from a spouse, is financially independent, or postpones enrollment (i.e., does not enroll in higher education classes immediately after high school).
• Streaming video - a video file that is sent in a condensed form to save downloading time. You can view streaming video as it downloads instead of having to wait to receive the whole file.
• Syllabus - a document that the online instructor provides to give the students a synopsis of the course and its learning objectives. The syllabus may also discuss required texts, grading criteria, exam and assignment due dates, and the material that will be covered.
• Terminal degree - the highest degree obtainable in a particular field. A terminal degree is typically some kind of doctoral degree, such as an M.D., Ph.D., or J.D.
• Threaded discussion - a series of posts on a certain subject provided in a discussion forum. The purpose of threaded discussion is the same as that of traditional in-class discussion: for students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter while learning from one another's perspectives. Most Kansas online education classes rely on threaded messages as the main form of class participation.

If you have any questions about online education, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for your answers.