AIU ODeL Glossary

Instant Messaging (often called just IMing) used to be referred to as real-time e-mail. IM is ideal for quick, little messages for touching base and saying hi or getting an answer without a formal e-mail. 

An Instructor, or Lecturer, usually focuses on teaching rather than research, although, unlike an adjunct, may serve on academic committees. These positions are usually non-tenure track. 

In instructor-led classes, an instructor determines what happens with the content, pace of instruction, and evaluation. See also: Self-paced Instruction. 

Interdisciplinary study means combining or involving two or more academic disciplines or fields of study. 

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard IP address (Internet protocol) suite (TCP/IP) to link several billion devices worldwide. Contrary to popular thought, the World Wide Web is not synonymous with the Internet but just one of its features, along with email, IM, and FTP.7 

An internship is an opportunity to work at a firm for a fixed time period (up to 12 months) to gain practical training in the field. Whether paid or unpaid, it provides valuable experience for the student’s career. Employment isn’t guaranteed at the end of the internship, but many employers use internships to train and evaluate future employees.