Exercise: acronyms

Directions: Find words or phrases standing for the following acronyms with short descriptions.

1. IT = Information technology    
            
2. ICT =  Information and Communications Technology

3. CAI =   Computer-Assisted Instruction
 
4. CALL =  Computer Assisted Language  Learning

5. WBI  =  Web base instruction

6. CBI  =  Computer Based Instruction

7. CMC = Computer-Mediated Communications

8. TELL =  Teaching English Language Learners

9. MUD =  Multiple User Dialogue

10. MOO =  Matter of Opinion

Resorce: http://senarak.tripod.com/wbi.htm

Directions: Describe the following terms.
Synchronous Tools
        Synchronous tools enable real-time communication and collaboration in a "same time-different place" mode. These tools allow people to connect at a single point in time, at the same time. Synchronous tools possess the advantage of being able to engage people instantly and at the same point in time. The primary drawback of synchronous tools is that, by definition, they require same-time participation -different time zones and conflicting schedules can create communication challenges. In addition, they tend to be costly and may require significant bandwidth to be efficient.

Asynchronous tools
         Asynchronous tools enable communication and collaboration over a period of time through a "different time-different place" mode. These tools allow people to connect together at each person's own convenience and own schedule. Asynchronous tools are useful for sustaining dialogue and collaboration over a period of time and providing people with resources and information that are instantly accessible, day or night. Asynchronous tools possess the advantage of being able to involve people from multiple time zones. In addition, asynchronous tools are helpful in capturing the history of the interactions of a group, allowing for collective knowledge to be more easily shared and distributed. The primary drawback of asynchronous technologies is that they require some discipline to use when used for ongoing communities of practice (e.g., people typically must take the initiative to "login" to participate) and they may feel "impersonal" to those who prefer higher-touch synchronous technologies.

Resorce: http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/articledetail.cfm?itemnumber=13572