Academy Modules: Modules developed for students in the three content areas are referred to as Academy modules. The instructor's modules are created for orientation purposes and are not intended for professional development. Rather, they are designed to convey information about Academy modules and how they can be integrated into teacher education programs.

Content Areas: OSEP has specified three content areas within the teacher education curriculum for the Academy to focus on. The content areas include reading, positive behavioral supports and technology in education. These are the content areas from which research-based interventions will be selected and transformed into instructional modules.

Delivery System: The vehicle used in offering courses off campus is often referred to as a delivery system. For example, in courses offered via interactive television, the TV network is the delivery system. The Academy is using the WWW and the internet as its delivery system.

Directed Questions: A series of questions about lesson content has been included as a feature in each module. A question is presented. Once students enter their response they are able to access exemplary answers. This allows them to compare their response to responses prepared by the Academy staff.

Interconnectivity: Interconnectivity has several meanings.It is used in the Academy to refer to the capacity for communication between students and the instructor. E-mail can be used as a vehicle for students to share their responses to activities and assessments with their instructor. The instructor can also respond to the students using e-mail.

Menu: There are menus for each level and lesson in an Academy module. Links to the level menus appear in the center of the menubar. Access any level menu by clicking the level titles in the center of the menubar. Click the up arrow (top right) to access the menu for the current level or to go to the next higher menu level. For example, if you are viewing a page in a lesson the up arrow takes you to the current Lesson menu then to the menu for all Lessons then to the Table of Contents (ToC) for the entire module.

Module: A module is an instructional unit. It contains the pedagogical features necessary for instruction. Examples of features include objectives, the presentation of content, activities designed to engage the learner, assessments of learner performance and opportunities to apply what has been learned.

Online Module: All Academy modules are designed to be offered online. However, they can also be used as resources in traditional courses. When reference is made to online modules the focus is on their being offered as web based instructional modules.

Readings: References have been selected as resources for each lesson. Students are able to access the reading online. They can read the selections online or print them for reading at a later time.

Resource Option: If an instructor opts to not assign students to complete the modules online they can use features of the modules as resources in traditional courses.

Traditional Courses: Instructional formats such as courses and seminars taught face to face are referred to as traditional to differentiate them from online instruction taught via the Internet and the WWW.

Traditional Formats: Instructional formats such as courses and seminars taught face to face are referred to as traditional to differentiate them from online instruction taught via the Internet and the WWW.