3-dimensional

Having three dimensions: length, width, and depth. A sheet of paper is 2-dimensional (length and width); people are 3-dimensional.

Address

An e-mail address. A way to locate you through your Internet service provider.

Address book

A place for storing names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Aerodynamics

The science that studies the movement of gases (such as air) and the way solid bodies (such as aircraft) move through them.

Algebra

A part of mathematics in which signs and letters represent numbers.

Analog

Technology that conveys data as electronic signals (or waves). Broadcast and phone transmission has used analog technology.

Antarctica

The continent (body of land) around the South Pole.

Aquarium (& aquaria)

A place where fish and other water animals live and are studied. Aquaria is the plural of aquarium.

Archaeologist

A person who studies ancient cultures by examining their buildings, tools, and other objects.

Archive

A collection of individual publications that are often cataloged or listed and made accessible.

Arrows

A means to navigate backward (left arrow) or forward (right arrow) through Web pages.

Article

A piece of writing on a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine.

Artificial intelligence

Computer programs that have some of the qualities of the human mind (such as the ability to understand language, recognize pictures, and learn from experience). Also called AI.

Astronaut

A person who is trained for traveling into space.

Astronomy

The study of the universe and the objects that exist naturally in space (such as stars and planets).

Attachment

A file copied to an e-mail message that a person can read and store separately from the e-mail message.

Bandwidth

The width of a band of electromagnetic frequencies; how fast data flows on a given transmission path. Expressed as data speed in bits per second (bps). Bandwidth is proportional to the complexity of the data for a given level of system performance. For example, it takes more bandwidth to download a photograph in one second than it takes to download a page of text in one second.

Biography

The story of the life of a person written by someone else.

Biological oceanographer

A scientist who studies the natural processes of living things in the ocean.

Biome

A major ecological community category (such as tropical rain forest, grassland, or desert).

Blind carbon copy (also bcc)

An e-mail sent to a recipient in a way that hides from the main recipient that other people are being sent copies of the e-mail message.

Boolean search

A method for searching for information in databases. A Boolean search combines search terms with operators such as AND, OR, NOT, and parentheses. For example, “cat AND dog” searches for sources in which both “cat” and “dog” appear; “cat NOT dog” searches for sources in which “cat” appears and “dog” does not.

Brainstorm

To suggest a lot of ideas very quickly without evaluating them carefully.

Brochure

A type of small publication that contains pictures and information.

Browse (the Web)

To look through Web pages.

Browser

A computer program that lets you use the Internet.

Carbon copy (also cc)

An e-mail choice that sends a copy of an e-mail message to an additional recipient.

Career

A job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life.

CD-ROM

Compact disk–read only memory; a compact disk used to store text, graphics, video, and sound; “read only” means the user cannot alter the information.

Celsius

A scale for measuring temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°.

CEO

Chief executive officer of a business; the person in charge.

Chapatis (also chapattis)

A type of flat round Indian bread made without yeast.

Chat

An Internet application that allows people to have a typed, real-time, online conversation over a network.

Click/Double-click

To use a mouse button to select an item on a computer screen.

Climate

The general weather conditions of a particular place.

Clipboard

A temporary place to store information that is being copied/pasted within a document or between documents.

Code talkers

Navajo soldiers who served in the U.S. military during World War II and used their native Navajo language as if it were a code so the enemy could not understand them.

Community

The people who live in a particular area or a group of people who have shared interests, background, or nationality.

Computer

An electronic device that can store large amounts of information and be given sets of instructions to organize and use information quickly.

Copy

To place a selected piece of a document into the Clipboard to paste it in another location. With Copy, the selected text remains in its original location.

Copyright

The legal right to control all uses of an original work (such as a book, play, movie, or piece of music).

CPU

Central processing unit.  The part of a computer that controls the other parts.

Cross-curricular

Describing a study that uses many skills and areas of study to examine a topic in depth. For instance, a cross-curricular examination of the topic “Indonesia” might cover geography, history, tourism, religion, economics, art, and more.

Culture

The way of life of a people; for example, their attitudes toward each other and their moral and religious beliefs.

Cut

To delete a selected piece of a document from its original location. With Paste, you can insert the text into another document.

Cyber… (space, librarian)

Prefix used to describe a person, thing, or idea as part of the computer and information age. Cyberspace: the Internet.

Dal

An Indian sauce made from lentils and spices, usually served with rice.

Data disk

A compact disk or a floppy disk used to store text, graphics, video, and sound.

Database

A collection of related, organized information.

Delete

To remove an unwanted piece of a document.

Desert

A large area that has very little rain and few plants.

Design elements

The principles of good graphic design, such as balance, symmetry, and color harmony.

Dewey decimal system

A system of organizing texts in libraries.

Digital

Electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in strings of 0s and 1s. Each of these digits is referred to as a bit. Computers use digital technology.

Directory

A collection of computer files.

Disk

A way to store information for a computer to use (such as the computer’s hard disk or a data disk).

Download

To copy information from a Web site or another computer to your computer.

Draft (first, rough, final)

A version of a text (such as a drawing or an essay).

DSL

A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high-speed data communication over the existing telephone lines.

Ecology

The science that studies the relationship of living things to their environment and to one another.

Ecoregion

An area of similar climate, rainfall, plants, and wildlife

Ecosystem

The relationships between the plants, animals, and people living in an area and their environment.

Edit

To review a document to correct errors and make improvements.

Editorial

A statement of one person’s opinion in a newspaper or magazine or on radio or television.

Electronic

Involving a system of operation that involves the control of a flow of electrons. (Electrical means using electricity for power.)

Electronic communications

The process by which information is sent from one person to another over a computer network.

Electronic forum

A discussion group organized around a specific interest.

Electronic mail

A message or document sent over a computer network from one computer user to another.

Electronic publications

Newspapers and magazines published only on the Internet.

E-mail

Electronic mail.

Emoticons

Symbols used to indicate the sender’s emotional state in e-mail or forums.

Endangered species

A type of animal or plant that might die out because of adverse conditions. Not many members of the species are still alive.

Environment

The air, water, and land where people, animals, and plants live.

Essay

A short piece of writing on a particular subject, usually expressing the writer’s personal views.

Evaluate

To judge the quality, importance, or value of something (such as a Web site).

Exercise (physical)

Physical activity to keep your body healthy.

Extinct

No longer existing; for example, the dodo bird.

Ezine

Magazines created specifically to be published on the Web.

Fahrenheit

A scale for measuring temperature in which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.

Feature

An article or program that gives details about something that is not part of the main news.

Folder

A place to store and organize files on a computer.

Forest (and rain forest)

A large area full of trees, usually wild.

Forum

Electronic forum or discussion area.

Forum netiquette

Short for “Net etiquette." Rules of polite behavior in a forum.

Frikadeller

Danish meatballs.

ftp

File transfer protocol. One way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. Sometimes used to transfer Web page files from their creator to the computer that acts as their server for everyone on the Internet. It's also commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers.

Gateway

A computer that acts as an entrance to a network (like the Internet).

Genre

A type of literature, art, or music characterized by its particular form or style (such as poetry, fiction, or drama).

Geography

The study of the earth's surface, including continents, mountains, seas, weather, and plant life, and of the ways in which countries and people organize life within an area.

Geometry

The area of mathematics relating to the study of space and the relationships between points, lines, curves, and surfaces.

Global

Relating to the whole world or globe.

Goals

Aims or purposes.

Government

The offices, departments, and groups of people that control a country, state, city, or other political unit.

GPS

Global positioning system. People can use hand-held computers to communicate with GPS satellites to locate their exact position on Earth (using longitude and latitude).

Graphic design

The art or profession of using design elements (such as text and images) to convey information or create an effect

Graphics

Pictures or images.

Hard drive

A computer’s storage area.

Home page

The opening page of a Web site that greets visitors and directs them to other pages on the Web site.

HTML

Hypertext markup language; formatting instructions for Web documents, including definitions of links (where the links go).

http

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Transfers displayable Web pages and related files.

Hyperlink

Text or graphic that you click to go to another location.

Hypertext

Text that links to another location.

Icon

A graphic that represents a function (such as the trash can or a folder).

Initiative

The ability to judge what needs to be done and take action.

Insert

To place text or a graphic into a document.

Interactive

A computer program that presents choices from which the user selects one to tell the program what to do next.

Internet

A worldwide network of computer networks.

Internet service provider

A company that provides a user with access to the Internet.

Interpreter (at a park)

A park ranger who provides information about the park to visitors.

Inverted pyramid

A style of writing used in newspapers in which the most important facts are presented first and nonessential details are provided later.

Keyboard

A device (based on a typewriter) used to enter information into a computer.

Keyword search

A way to search the Internet based on specific words you enter.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the equator measured from 0° to 90°.

Launch

Begin a program, a Web site, and so on.

Lead (paragraph)

Opening paragraph of an article.

Likert scale

A system of rating items on a scale from 1 to 5, in which 1 means you strongly disagree with the statement and 5 means you strongly agree with that statement. Many opinion polls and surveys use this method of gathering data.

Link

See Hyperlink.

Listserv

An e-mail server containing mailing lists.

Log off

To exit a computer system or disconnect from an online service.

Log on

To access a computer system by entering a user name and password.

Longitude

The position to the east or west of an imaginary circle around the earth that passes through the North Pole, the South Pole, and Greenwich, England.

Lurk

To read and watch a forum without responding.

Map legend

The explanation of the symbols on a map.

Marine biologist

A scientist who studies ocean plants and animals and their ecological relationships.

Media

Plural of “medium” (a method or way of expressing something). Newspapers, magazines, television, and radio, considered as a group, are media.

Menu

A list of commands or functions displayed on screen.

Message

An e-mail message.

Meteorology

The scientific study of the earth's atmosphere (the air surrounding the earth) and how it causes changes in weather conditions.

Migrate

To move from one region to another.

Modem

Modulator-demodulator. Modulates digital signals from a computer into analog signals to transmit over telephone lines. Demodulates the analog signals to digital signals.

Monitor

A computer display screen.

Museum

A collection of objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest, usually housed in a building where visitors can examine them.

Navigate

To move around the Web from page to page.

Netiquette

Short for “Net etiquette.” Rules of polite behavior for the Internet (such as sending e-mail).

Newspaper style

Inverted pyramid.

Online

Describing the state of being connected to a computer network (such as the Internet).

Page

A Web page.

Page layout

The design of a document, including the placement of text and graphics.

Password

Part of a user’s identification to gain access to a computer system.

Paste

To place a selected piece of a document from the Clipboard into another location in the same or in a different document.

Pastizzi

Maltese filled pastry snacks.

Peer edit

To review another writer’s work and provide feedback.

Perspective (art)

A way to paint on a flat surface to make things look as if they are 3-dimensional.

Philosophy

The study of the nature of reality and existence, of what it is possible to know, and of right and wrong behavior, or a particular set of beliefs.

Planning

Thinking about and deciding on a way to do something.

Political system

Form of government, for example:

· Constitutionalism: a system of government with a written constitution

· Democracy, republic, commonwealth: political systems in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

· Oligarchy: a political system governed by a few people

· Plutocracy: a political system governed by wealthy people

· Theocracy: a political unit governed by a deity or by officials thought to be divinely guided

Portal (Web)

A Web site that provides a search engine and links to other Web sites (such as Yahoo).

Post, posting

To make something available on a Web site or forum.

Prairie

A wide area of flat land, covered with grass, usually home to grazing animals.

Principle

A moral rule or standard of good behavior; a basic truth that explains or controls how something happens or works.

Probability

The likelihood of something happening or being true.

Protocol

The special set of rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they communicate.

Publish

To make a document available to the public.

Ratio

A relationship between two groups or amounts that expresses a comparison.

Research

A detailed study of a subject to discover information or achieve a new understanding.

Review

To examine something (such as a document) to make changes in it, study it, or give an opinion about it.

Save

To store a document.

Scanner

A machine used to change printed material to digital form and store it in a computer.

Scoop

A news story discovered and published by one newspaper before all the others.

Search engine

A remotely accessible program that lets you do keyword searches for information on the Internet.

Secure (Web page)

A Web page that uses software to protect the information users enter.

Server

A central computer from which other computers obtain information.

Simulation, simulated environment

A set of images and sounds produced by a computer representing a real place or situation.

smtp

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Transfers e-mail messages.

Spreadsheet

A computer program that allows you to do financial calculations and plans.

Storyboard

A series of drawings or images showing the order of events planned for a document, film, or other narrative.

Strategy

A long-range plan for achieving a goal.

Surf

To browse on the Web.

Survey

A collection of information gathered by asking many people the same questions.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol. A set of rules used to send data in the form of message units between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual units of data that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet.

Telecommunications

The sending and receiving of messages by computer, telephone, radio, and television.

Tessellation

A repeating pattern of interlocking shapes.

Text

The words in a document.

Topographical map

A map showing the natural features of land, including mountains and valleys.

Typo

Typographical error.  A mistake in text (such as keying “teh” instead of “the”).

Upload

To copy information from your computer to a Web site or another computer using ftp.

URL

Universal resource locator; an Internet address.

User ID

Part of a user’s identification to gain access to a computer system.

Virtual

A set of images and sounds produced by a computer representing a real place or situation.

Weather

The conditions in the air (such as wind speed or temperature) at a particular place and time.

Web

The part of the Internet that uses hypertext documents and allows for user interaction.

Web browser

A computer program that allows you view Web pages.

Web master

A person who maintains Web pages.

Web page

A hypertext document.

Web site

A group of interrelated Web pages.

Wetlands

An area of land that is naturally wet (such as a swamp).

Word processor

A computer program that allows you to create and edit documents.

World Wide Web

The part of the Internet that uses hypertext documents and allows for user interaction.

Writing process

The process of writing drafts and reviewing and editing them before completing a final draft.

Zoology

The study of animals.