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=Information Technology Glossary= Joe Wood

802.11b
The least expensive and most common wireless protocol. Operates at 2.4 Ghz and consists of 13 overlapping channels. Has data transfer rates of up to 11 Mbps, but transfer rates of 4-6 Mbps are common during normal use.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall, and Tracy V. Wilson (2001, April). //How Wifi Works// Retrieved May 5, 2008, from How Stuff Works Website: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm.

802.11g
Wireless protocol that operates at 2.4 Ghz and has data transfer rates up to 54 Mbps. Devices that use 802.11g are backwards compatible with 802.11b devices.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall, and Tracy V. Wilson (2001, April). //How Wifi Works// Retrieved May 5, 2008, from How Stuff Works Website: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm.

802.11n
The newest wireless protocol that has data transfer rates up to 100-140 Mbps and works at longer distances than 802.11g and 802.11b protocols.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall, and Tracy V. Wilson (2001, April). //How Wifi Works// Retrieved May 5, 2008, from How Stuff Works Website: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm.

Access Point
A device that connects wireless devices to a wired network.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall, and Tracy V. Wilson (2001, April). //How Wifi Works// Retrieved May 5, 2008, from How Stuff Works Website: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm.

Active Directory
A service on Windows servers that allows network administrators to assign policies, deploy software, and apply updates to computers throughout a network. Netetwork can be set up so that computers must authenticate when users log on.
 * Citation:** Wikipedia (2008, May) //Active Directory on Wikipedia// Retrieved May 4, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Directory

Andragogy
The term used to describe the study of how adults learn and theories associated with adult learning. According to Wikipedia the term was originally used by in Alexander Kapp in 1833 and developed into a theory by Malcolm Knowles. The theory developed by Knowles had four key components to adult learning theory
 * 1) Adults should be involve in the planning and evaluation of their learning.
 * 2) Learning topics need to be related to learner's experiences including mistakes.
 * 3) Learning topics must be relevant to personal needs.
 * 4) Adult learning is problem-based rather than content-based.
 * Citation:** Wikipedia (2008, April) //Andragogy in Wikipedia// Retrieved April 26, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andragogy

Bandwidth
Defined as the rate at which data is transmitted over a network. Software and resources that require large amounts of data require large bandwidth
 * Citation**: Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

CAT 5 Wiring
A type of unshielded twisted pair wire that is commonly used for data transmission. It can handle data transfer rates in excess of 155 Mbps. This wire has four separate pairs of twisted wire covered by an outer sheath.
 * Citation**: Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

Converged Networks
Networks that have the ability to carry data, voice and video simultaneously.
 * Citation:** Global Knowledge (2008) //Networking Glossary// Retrieved May 15, 2008, from http://www.globalknowledge.net/help/glossary.aspx

Collaborative Apprenticeship
A professional development model consisting of interactions between participants.
 * Citation:** Glazer, E., Hannafin, M. J., & Song, L. (2005). Promoting technology integration through collaborative apprenticeships. //Educational Technology Research and Development, 53//(4), 57–67.

Desktop Lockdown
Adjusting authentication settings so that users to do not have the ability to adjust the settings on their client machine. This may include settings for changing desktop backgrounds, screen savers, and installation of programs.
 * Citation:** Feldman, J. (2004, September 16). //The IT Agenda: Desktop Lockdown Limits// Retrieved May 15, 2008 from Network Computing http://www.networkcomputing.com/showitem.jhtml?docid=1518colfeldman

DNS Server
Servers that translate URLs into IP addresses.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall. (2000, April 1) //How Domain Name Servers Work.// Retrieved May 5, 2008, from http://www.howstuffworks.com/dns.htm

DSL
Acronym for Digital Subscriber Line. Consists of a dedicated circuit between a subscriber's location and the phone company. Allows for alway-on high speed Internet access over copper phone lines without interrupting voice transmission.
 * Citation:** Intel (n.d) Retrieved May 4, 2008, from Intel Glossary http://www.intel.com/products/glossary/body.htm

E-Rate
A short name for the Universal Service Fund, A program administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Provides discounts to American schools an libraries for telecommunication and internet connections in the areas of telecommunications services, Internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance of internal connections. Funds are provided via the Universal Service fee. Discount amounts vary from 20%-90% depending on the socioeconomic status of the population being served. Schools may be public or private, but must be nonprofit organizations predominantly serving elementary or secondary students. In some states other educational agencies may apply. Libraries must also be nonprofit agencies that are unaffiliated with a school. Applying agencies must have an USAC approved technology plan unless they are just applying for basic telephone service. They must also supply end-user equipment such as comptuers and telephones, professional development, and software.
 * Citation:** Universal Service Administrative Company (2008, February 21) //Overview of the Program - Schools and Libraries - USAC.// Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program.aspx

Ethernet
The most widely installed LAN protocol today. 10BaseT Ethernet implementation involves star topology where one hub connects multiple computers and repeats information for each of them.
 * Citation**: Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices.// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

Firewall
A program or piece of hardware that filters what traffic may enter a network using packet filtering, proxy service, or stateful inspection. Firewalls protect users from a variety of things such as remote logins, application backdoors, operating system bugs, and certain types of spam.
 * Citation:** Tyson, J. (2000, October 24). How Firewalls Retrieved May 15, 2008 from How Stuff Works http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm

Formative Evaluation
A method of collecting data or analyzing progress during an on-going project or learning session. The information collected during a formative evaluation may lead to changes or modifications of an on-going project.
 * Citation:** Foundation Center (2008) //Proposal Writing Short Course 2008//. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html

Hard Data
Data that can be described with specificity. Usually consists of quantitative data, such as statistics on populations or experimental results.
 * Citation:** Kiritz, Norton (1997). //Hard Data / Soft Data: How they help you build strong proposals.// Retrieved April 12, 2008, from http://tgci.com/magazine/Hard%20Data.pdf

**Hub**
An electronic device that serves as the center of a network using star topology. When information is sent from one computer to another using a hub the information is broad casted out of all ports.
 * Citation:** Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices//. Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

Internet
A worldwide collection of networked computers, servers, and other hardware that communicate via TCP/IP protocols. Successor to DARPA-Net
 * Citation:** University of California Irvine (2005, April 8) //Network and Computing Services Glossary.// Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.nacs.uci.edu/network/network-glossary.html

MAC Address
Short for Media Access Control address. Consists of a 6 pairs of letters and numbers that is stamped into every network card and used to identify hardware on a network.
 * Citation:** University of California Irvine (2005, April 8) //Network and Computing Services Glossary.// Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.nacs.uci.edu/network/network-glossary.html

NETS-T
National Education Technology Standards for Teachers. These standards were developed by the International Society for Technology in Education, focus on six areas, include performance indicators for each area. They are to be used by preservice teachers and those already in working in the classroom.
 * Citation:** International Society for Technology in Education (n.d.) //ISTE NETS for Teachers// Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/NETS_for_Teachers.htm

NIC
Stands for Network Interface Card. Used to connect computers to a network. Usually consists of a card that is plugged into an expansion slot on a motherboard and an RJ45 port to connect the computer to the network via a CAT-5 cable
 * Citation:** University of California Irvine (2005, April 8) //Network and Computing Services Glossary.// Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.nacs.uci.edu/network/network-glossary.html

Open Source
A description for any type of software whose code is available for others to legally use and modify.
 * Citation:** John's Hopkins University (n.d.) //Information Technology Glossary at John's Hopkins Letters M-O//. Retrieved May 1, 2008, from http://it.jhu.edu/glossary/mno.html

RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is the type of memory computers use for processing and short-term storage. Information is stored in a random pattern on small microchip. This is unlike serial memory, such as tapes and disks, where the information is stored in a sequential patter. When computers power down, the information stored in RAM will disappear completely after a few seconds to minutes depending on the temperature of the computer.
 * Citation:** Tyson, Jeff, and Dave Coustan (2000, August 25) //How RAM Works// Retrieved, from How Stuff Works http://www.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm

RFP
Acronym for Request for Proposal. A set of guidelines and application procedures for grant funding agencies
 * Citation:** The School District of Palm Beach County (2005, April 27) //Glossary of Grant Related Terminology// Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/grants/Glossary%20Terms.htm

RJ-45
A type of 8 pin 10 Base T connector used by network interface cards to connect to a local area network.
 * Citation:** Wikipedia (2008, April 27) //Registered Jack// Retrieved May 6, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rj45

**Router**
Devices that connect one network to another network. They determine which data is allowed into the network and which data is allowed out of the network. A router is needed for a network to access the Internet.
 * Citation:** Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

Server
A computer on a network that is used for hosting files that are accessed by multiple client computers on the same network or from outside the network.
 * Citation:** Brain, Marshall (2000, April 1) How Web Servers Work Retrieved May 6, 2008, from How Stuff Works http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm

Soft Data
Data that does not have the specificity of hard data. It is usually anecdotal and lacks the rigor implied in statistical data, but can lend a "feel" to a report.
 * Citation:** Kiritz, Norton (1997). //Hard Data / Soft Data: How they help you build strong proposals// Retrieved April 12, 2008, from http://tgci.com/magazine/Hard%20Data.pdf

Static IP Address
An IP address that is assigned to a computer or server and does not change very often.
 * Citation**: XWire (2007) //XWire Glossary// Retrieved May 6, 2008 from http://www.xwire.com/glossary

Student Information System
A piece of software that is used by a school or district to manage student data including personal information, test scores, and grades.
 * Citation:** Wikipedia (2008, February 12) //Student Information System// Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_information_system

Summative Evaluation
A final evaluation at the end of a unit or project. Used to measure the over all outcome of a project or lesson. Contrast with formative evaluation which is an on-going evaluation taht is made during a unit or project.
 * Citation:** Foundation Center (2008) //Proposal Writing Short Course 2008// Retrieved April 5, 2008, from http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html

When a local area network is organized so that it looks like a star. Network wiring runs from individual clients to a hub or central location. This is the most commonly used type of network topology because it is easy to troubleshoot.
 * Star Topology**
 * Citation:** Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) //Common Components and Practices// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

Sustainability
In terms of grant writing, the long-term fiscal viability of a project or funding idea
 * Citation:** Foundation Center (2008) //Proposal Writing Short Course 2008// Retrieved April 5, 2008, from http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html

Switch
Hardware on a network that allows to devices to communicate directly with each other using MAC addresses. Provides faster data transfer rates than a hub.
 * Citation:** Tyson, Jeff (2001, January 24) How LAN Switches Work Retrieved May 6, 2008, from How Stuff Works http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch.htm

TCP/IP
A set of communication protocols used by computers to communicate over the Internet.
 * Citation:** Wikipedia (2008, May 6) //Internet Protocol Suite// Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCP/IP

Technology (Use) Plan
A document developed by a school district to outline how technology hardware and resources will be used by teachers, students, and staff. The Technology Use Plan must have specific pieces of information including current technology along with plans for replacing hardware and technology integration.

TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
All costs associated with setting up and maintaining a networked set of computers
 * Citation:** Consortium for School Networking (2008) //Taking TCO to the Classroom// Retrieved May 6, 2008 ,from http://www.classroomtco.org/index.html

UTP
An acronym for "unshielded twisted pair." This kind of wire is used for telephone an network connections. Seven specific UTP specifications exist ranging from CAT1 to CAT7.
 * Citation:** Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (2005) Common Components and Practices// Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.netc.org/network_guide/5.html

VPN
Stands for Virtual Private Network. Used to connect users to private networks, such as a school or company network, from the public network or Internet. Virtual Private Networks allow users to securely log into a school network from home or other location via the Internet through an encrypted connection.
 * Citation:** Tyson, Jeff (2001, February 15). How Virtual Private Networks Work Retreived May 6 2008, from How Stuff Works http://computer.howstuffworks.com/vpn.htm