Glossary of common terms

Java:  a programming language that can be used to write all kinds of programs, from Applets which run in the browser to Midlets that run in Palm handhelds or cell phones to desktop client programs and especially server-side programs including web server "servlets".  Moodle does not use any Java.

A scripting language that can be used to write small programs in web pages, such as popup menus. Moodle uses a little Javascript.

Moodle was originally an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, but now it's just a name.

It's also a verb: "I try and moodle every day!"

The Moodle Partners are a group of companies affiliated with moodle.com who:

• Are very knowledgeable and supportive of the Moodle project
• Provide quality Moodle services such as hosting and consulting
• Support Moodle development directly via royalty payments
• Are often found around moodle.org, helping people for free

For more information about Partners (and perhaps even becoming one) see the moodle.com/partners site.

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database, recognized for its speed and reliability.

A Moodle Nightly is built automatically every day from the most recent code, and is available from the Moodle.org download page. It can be useful if you don't have CVS, but you want to try the latest features. It can also contain bugs, since they may not have been well-tested yet.

The areas within a course that hold activities are known as sections. This is a generic term that covers weeks and topics.

This is where your web site or database, or both, resides. You may choose to run your own server or have a hosting provider look after this for you.

Short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a protocol for sending e-mail messages between servers. Most e-mail systems that send mail over the Internet use SMTP to send messages from one server to another. In addition, SMTP is generally used to send messages from a mail client (or a program like Moodle) to a mail server.

Social constructionism is a term that defines a particular view of education. It acknowledges constructivism as a description of what each learner experiences, while focussing on the power of constructing artifacts (like text) within a social environment.

From this point of view, education is best served by creating experiences that would be best for learning from the learner's point of view, rather than just publishing and assessing the information you think they need to know. Each participant in a course can be a teacher as well as a learner. A 'teacher' in this environment is an influencer and role model of class culture, connecting with others in a personal way that addresses their own learning needs, and moderating discussions and activities in a way that collectively leads students towards the learning goals of the class.

Moodle tries to promote this view, but is not constrained by it.