What's in a name? Digital. Virtual. Blended. e-Learning. Technology. Online. 

"Digital learning" refers to "any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student's learning experience and encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and practices" (Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), 2015, p. 1969). These include:

(a) interactive learning resources, digital learning content (which may include openly licensed content), software, or simulations, that engage students in academic content;

(b) access to online databases and other primary source documents;

(c) the use of data and information to personalize learning and provide targeted supplementary instruction;

(d) online and computer-based assessments;

(e) learning environments that allow for rich collaboration and communication, which may include student collaboration with content experts and peers;

(f) hybrid or blended learning, which occurs under direct instructor supervision at a school or other location away from home and, at least in part, through online delivery of instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, or pace; and

(g) access to online course opportunities for students in rural or remote areas. (p. 1969)

Words and meaning associated with different models for learning and teaching.

21st Century skills

Skills necessary for all children to succeed as citizens and workers in this century. These skills such as collaboration and teamwork, creativity and imagination, critical thinking, problem solving, digital literacy and citizenship are building blocks for learning. (Source: The Glossary of Education Reform, http://edglossary.org/21st-century-skills/)

 Asynchronous. Synchronous

 Asynchronous. Forms of accessing and providing information that does not require interaction with others to occur at the same time, i.e., forums, blogs, email, website links, etc.

Synchronous. Forms of accessing and providing information that require interaction with others to occur at the same time, i.e., interactive webinars, videoconferencing.

Blended Learning 

In a blended learning environment, learning occurs online and in person, augmenting and supporting teacher practice. This approach often allows students to have some control over time, place, path, or pace of learning. In many blended learning models, students spend some of their face-to-face time with the teacher in a large group, some face-to-face time with a teacher or tutor in a small group, and some time learning with and from peers. Blended learning often benefits from a reconfiguration of the physical learning space to facilitate learning activities, providing a variety of technology-enabled learning zones optimized for collaboration, informal learning, and individual-focused study. (Source: https://tech.ed.gov/netp/learning/)

Digital Technologies

Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate, store or process data. Well known examples include social media, online games, multimedia and mobile phones. (Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/digital/Pages/teach.aspx)

 Online. Offline

  Online has come to describe activities performed on and data available on the Internet, (Source: Dictionary of British and World English. Oxford University Press.) 

Offline can refer to either computing activities performed while disconnected from the Internet, or alternatives to Internet activities. Offline is sometimes used interchangeably with the acronym "IRL", meaning "in real life".

 Online Education

Online education takes place entirely online. It is a form of Internet-based education, may use video lectures or self-paced courses to take students through their learning experiences. Students work on their own time. While there are no scheduled class times,there are deadlines to complete assigned work or tasks. (Source: https://www.geneva.edu/blog/higher-education/online-education-vs-remote-learning)

 Project-based learning

Project-based learning takes place in the context of authentic problems, continues across time, and brings in knowledge from many subjects. Project-based learning, if properly implemented and supported, helps students develop 21st century skills, including creativity, collaboration, and leadership, and engages them in complex, real-world challenges that help them meet expectations for critical thinking. (Source: https://tech.ed.gov/netp/learning/)

Remote/virtual

 Remote learning strives to re-create the classroom environment as the student learns through the computer. Remote learning requires the student to check in at set times to watch lectures and presentations. The student logs in to the virtual classroom environment at scheduled times to view lectures or participate in group learning activities. (Source: https://www.geneva.edu/blog/higher-education/online-education-vs-remote-learning)