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Access device

An item of ICT equipment that is used directly by students, teachers or school staff. Access devices include:

• desktop computers
• laptop computers
• thin client computers
• interactive whiteboards
• data projectors
• digital cameras
• printers
• scanners

Application software

Software used for a specific application. Schools use the software for teaching, learning or administration. Examples include:

• content management systems
• learning systems
• finance and assets systems
• staff and student management systems
• assessment and reporting systems

Assessment and reporting system

Application software used by schools to support the management of student assessment and reporting.

Bandwidth

A measure of how much data can be transferred through a network connection.

Baseline budget

Annual cost to sustain a school’s ICT infrastructure at its current level of performance.

Block grant authority

A funding authority through which the Australian Government funds infrastructure projects for non-government schools. There are two block grant authorities (BGAs) in each state, one Catholic and one Independent. There are joint Catholic/Independent BGAs in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. BGAs receive and assess applications from non-government schools and make recommendations for funding to the Minister. They administer the projects after approval, which includes monitoring progress of the projects and making payments.

Blog

A log of journal entries posted on a Web page.

Broadband

A higher capacity network connection capable of providing access to a richer set of resources.

Content management system

Application software to manage digital content.

Core switch

Networking equipment that connects network cables to server computers.

Cyber-safety

Safety from risks associated with using online tools. Risks include:

• identity theft
• harassment and bullying
• exposure to illegal and inappropriate material
• exposure to promotion of inappropriate social and health behaviours
• loss of privacy
• physical dangers arising from contacts with strangers
• spam and viruses

Data projectors

An access device which projects onto a large screen for viewing by a class or other large group.

Desktop computer

A computer with a box case, separate screen and keyboard. Desktop computers are usually fixed to a particular location and are relatively immobile.

Digital content

Material including text, audio, still image and video resources, which are recorded in a digital form and made available using ICT tools.

Digital content repository

An electronic ‘place’ where digital content is stored. Digital content repositories are sophisticated databases with software for creating, importing, managing, retrieving and distributing digital content.

Digital Education Revolution

An initiative that is a major part of the Australian Government Education Revolution. The aim of the initiative is to contribute sustainable and meaningful change to teaching and learning in Australian schools that will prepare students for further education and training and for living and working in a digital world.

Digital portfolio

A collection of digital ‘evidence’ assembled and managed by a student or other person. Digital portfolios can be both demonstrations of the person’s abilities and platforms for self-expression. They can also be seen as a record that provides evidence of learning achievement.

Digital resources

Resources that are based on digital’ technology. They include ICT infrastructure and digital content.

Edge switch

Networking equipment located in different school buildings that link the high-capacity network cables of the school campus to the network cables within the building that connect to wall points in individual rooms.

Entry level

The most basic, and generally lowest cost, model of a technology product.

eLearning

‘Electronic’ learning, particularly learning that uses digital resources.

eLearning plan

An alternative name for an ICT strategic plan.

Environmental management equipment

Ancillary equipment in a room housing ICT equipment that maintains a suitable physical, climatic and electrical environment. Environmental management equipment includes:

• air conditioners
• uninterruptible power supplies
• fire protection equipment
• security alarms

Evaluation

A structured approach for determining the extent to which a plan has been successfully implemented and its goals achieved.

Finance and assets system

Application software which is used by schools to support the management of their finances and their assets.

Functional requirements

A set of statements which describe the functions required of a technology infrastructure or an individual technology component (such as a software product).

Governance processes

The means by which an organisation makes decisions and allows stakeholders to participate in decision making. Governance processes are often centred on committees or similar bodies.

Green procurement

Procurement where one of the objectives is to reduce the environmental impacts caused by the products or services being procured.

ICT infrastructure

The interconnected ICT hardware, software and associated resources that support teaching, learning and administration within a school.

ICT infrastructure plan

Whole school plans for developing and managing the school’s ICT infrastructure.

ICT planning framework

A guide for schools that identifies the different elements to be addressed in the effective use and management of ICT. ICT planning frameworks provide guidance on how schools can progressively develop their capabilities for the different elements.

ICT strategic plan

Strategic plan for developing, managing and using all elements of a school’s ICT resources. ICT strategic plans need to address learning vision, specific objectives, professional learning, digital content, and ICT infrastructure and budgeting. ICT strategic plans may often be called eLearning plans.

Information management

The active management of an organisation’s information resources in a way that recognises the important value of those resources. Information resources include digital content, records, data, library resources and ICT infrastructure.

Intended outcomes

The benefits that a school or other organisation intends to achieve from a strategy it has chosen to implement.

Interactive whiteboard

An access device with a large ‘whiteboard’ that acts as a computer display screen. People can interact with the whiteboard using special ‘pens’. Interactive whiteboards are effective tools for the teaching of groups.

Internal communications services

The technology-based services that allow computers and other ICT resources within a school to be connected with each other. The services are based on cabling, wireless services and equipment distributed throughout the school campus.

Interoperability

The ability of different technology components to operate together and exchange data.

Laptop computer

A lightweight and compact computer with the screen and keyboard integrated as a single unit. Laptop computers are highly portable.

Learning object

A resource, usually digital and web-based, that can be used and reused to support learning. Individual learning objects usually:

• offer small ‘chunks’ of learning
• are self contained
• are able to be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes
• can be aggregated into larger resources
• are tagged with metadata to make searching and discovery easier.

Learning space

A classroom or other designated physical space of a school in which learning occurs.

Learning system

Application software which is used by schools to support online activities for learning.

Leasing

A form of financing where the owner of equipment allows somebody else (such as a school) to use that equipment for a specified time, usually in return for regular payments.

License

Permission by the owner of a resource (including software and digital content) for somebody else to use that resource.

Lumen

A measure of the perceived power of light.

Measures of achievement

Specific measures by which a school or other organisation can assess the success of a strategy.

Metadata

‘Data about data’, which records information about the content, context and structure of data and makes it easier to find and interrogate a resource.

Moral right (authorship)

Under Australian law, authors of works have the following ‘moral rights’:

• to be identified as the author of the work or film when it is presented to the public
• not to have their work attributed falsely to someone else and not to have an altered work being attributed as unaltered
• to have the integrity of their work respected and not subjected to derogatory treatment

Multimedia

A resource made up of a combination of multiple types of media, including text, audio, still image and/or video resources.

Network infrastructure

The elements of ICT infrastructure that connect the different access devices throughout a school to the required tools, services, digital resources and to other access devices. It includes:

• internal communications services, cabling and equipment
• telecommunications services
• server computers and associated storage devices
• environmental management equipment
• operating software for server computers, communications equipment and related hardware

Onboard storage

The data storage capacity that is integrally built into a computer or other device, usually measured in gigabytes.

Open source

A general type of license that makes resources such as software and digital content available to the general public with relaxed or non-existent copyright restrictions.

Operating software

The software on computers and similar ICT hardware that manages the operation of the hardware.

Pod casting

The distribution of ‘broadcast’ material in digital form over the internet for playback on portable media players and computers.

Scanner

ICT equipment for copying a document and creating a digital image.

School strategic plan

Whole school plans which describe a vision, goals and strategies for teaching, learning and administration.

School systems and sectors

The groupings of government, Catholic and independent schools within Australia. Government schools are operated by state and territory education departments. Catholic schools are operated by dioceses or by Catholic state and territory education offices. Independent schools are more autonomous.

Server computer

A computer that hosts tools, resources and software used throughout the school. Server computers are connected to access devices such as desktop and laptop computers through the school’s network infrastructure. Server computers are generally located outside learning areas and are often placed in special server rooms.

Staff and student management system

Application software which is used by schools to support the management of information about staff and students.

Standard Operating Environment

A standard implementation of the operating software and associated software that is installed on computers throughout a school or other organisation.

Standard

A published document that sets out specifications and procedures designed to ensure that a material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and consistently performs in the way it was intended.

Statutory licence scheme

A scheme established under Australian copyright law that provides permission for schools to use copyright material for a fee.

Support resources

The people and skills, the processes, the externally provided services and the financial resources that are deployed to manage an ICT infrastructure.

Tablet computer

A laptop computer that enables the user to ‘write’ directly onto the screen.

Technical management practices

A set of professional procedures for planning, developing and managing technical resources, including ICT infrastructure.

Technology categories

The type of technology component. This guide identifies four categories of components in a school’s ICT infrastructure:

• access devices
• network infrastructure
• application software
• support resources.

Technology component

An individual item of ICT hardware or software.

Telecommunications services

The communications services which connect the school’s ICT infrastructure, including the various computers, to the Internet and external digital resources. These services are generally managed by a telecommunications provider.

Thin client computer

A computer with a screen and keyboard, but with limited processing and storage capacity. Most of the processing and information storage occurs elsewhere, usually on a server computer to which the thin client computer is networked.

Total cost of ownership

The sum of all the costs associated with the acquisition, implementation and management of technology components. Capital expenditure for new components such as computers is only one part of the total cost. New components also add to future recurrent costs.

Web browser

A software tool which enables a user to display and interact with digital content located on a web page at a website.

WiFi

The trade name for a commonly used wireless technology for the networking of computers and other access devices.

Wiki

A collection of web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute to it or to modify its content. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites.

Wireless access point

A device that connects wireless communication devices to form a wireless network. It usually connects to a wired network and can relay data between wireless devices and wired devices.

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AICTEC

Australian Information and Communications Technology in Education Committee

Becta

Formerly known as the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, Becta is an agency of the Department for Children, Schools and Families in the UK. It is the lead agency for information and communications technology (ICT) in education covering the United Kingdom.

BGA

block grant authority

CAD

computer-aided design

CAG

Copyright Advisory Group

CAL

Copyright Agency Limited

CAT5

Category 5 data cable

CAT6

Category 6 data cable

CD

compact disc

DEEWR

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

DVD

digital versatile disc

FOSS

Free and open source software

GB

gigabyte

Gb

gigabit

Gbps

gigabits per second

ICT

information and communications technology

IWB

interactive whiteboard

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

MB

megabyte

Mbps

megabits per second

MCEETYA

Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs

NAS

network attached storage

NEALS

National Education Access Licence for Schools

NSSCF

National Secondary School Computer Fund

OHS

occupational health and safety

PC

personal computer

PDA

personal digital assistant

SOE

standard operating environment

SRT

Schools Resourcing Taskforce

TCO

total cost of ownership

UMPC

ultra-mobile personal computer

VET

vocational education and training

WAP

wireless access point