Distance Education Terminology
- Asynchronous Learning:
- An event in which interaction between parties does not take place simultaneously because it is delayed by time.
- Correspondence Course:
- A course completed asynchronously using written correspondence for interaction and to submit assignments
- Course Reference Number (CRN)
- A unique code assigned to each University of Alaska course. The first numeral of a course numbered in the hundreds indicates the year in which the course is normally offered in its own department. Coursesidentified with numbers ending with -92 are seminars; ending in -93 are special topics courses; -95, special topics summer session courses; -97 indicates individual study; -98 individual research; -99 thesis. Courses with the suffix X meet specific baccalaureate core requirements. Courses with suffixes W or O meet upper-division writing intensive or oral communication intensive course requirements for the baccalaureate core.
- Distance education:
- Courses that do not require the student to attend face-to-face class sessions.
- Extension:
- An option which may be arranged to allow a yearlong independent learning student an additional six months to complete their course.
- Incomplete:
- An option which may be arranged to allow a student some additional time to complete their course.
- Independent learning:
- Distance Education courses that allow a student to complete the material at their own pace.
- Online courses:
- Courses completed via the Internet.
- Proctor:
- Someone approved to supervise an exam for a distance education student.
- Reinstatement:
- An option which may be arranged to allow a yearlong independent learning student an additional three months to complete their course. This option may be exercised after an extension has expired. Contact CDE for additional information.
- Synchronous Learning:
- A learning event in which interaction between participants is simultaneous.
- Transcript:
- An official UA document detailing a student’s educational history at UA.
- UA Core Curriculum:
- Courses required of all students pursuing a UA degree.
- Withdrawal:
- An option allowing a student to drop an independent learning course without negative impact on the student’s UAF transcript.
- Yearlong courses:
- Independent learning courses for which you may register at any time, with twelve months allowed to complete the course.