In the near future, almost all teaching professionals are likely to be implementing elearning methods. In 2017, it was reported that an LMS (learning management system) is used by 78% of institutions, and that number is likely to rise. Get ready for the rise of EdTech by ensuring that you know the following 10 key terms:

1. MOOC: this stands for Massive Open Online Course. MOOCs are courses that are made freely available to a very large number of people over the internet. They are a very popular tool, with 58 million people signing up to MOOCS in 2016 alone.
2. VLE: a Virtual Learning Environment is a platform that enables both students and educators to share materials relevant to the course. Modern VLEs such as Blackboard and Moodle support a wide variety of learning technologies, including online quizzes and video broadcasts of lectures.\
3. Synchronous elearning: elearning that takes place within the classroom and is synchronized with classroom activities.
4. Asynchronous elearning: elearning that takes place outside of the classroom. This is a good way of motivating students to pursue autonomous private study.
5. LMS: as noted above, this stands for Learning Management System (here are some US-based examples). These systems enable you to deliver instructional content and assess your students online and can be tailored to suit your needs.
6. M-learning: a division of elearning, m-learning is learning that takes place via smartphones and other mobile devices using technologies such as educational apps. In 2017 alone, 47% of institutions used some form of m-learning in their operations, so it is an important aspect of the elearning
7. Elearning authoring tools: these tools enable educators to build and adapt elearning systems to suit the specific needs of their classrooms.
8. Elearning localization: many elearning courses are designed to be rolled out internationally, but in order optimally to engage learners in different regions, they need to be ‘localized.’ Elearning localization tweaks elearning tools so that they are sensitive to language differences and varying cultural attitudes in a given region.
9. ROI: used throughout business, Return On Investment in elearning means the amount of money earned from elearning compared to the initial money spent on purchasing and implementing elearning
10. SME: usually an educator, a Subject Matter Expert (SME) can be used both to design and to deliver elearning modules and courses.

That was just a small taster of elearning related vocabulary. Which other terms would you add?