Research in Technology Enhanced Learning is multidisciplinary, what means that several disciplines have to share concepts and methods around a shared objective, and that they have also to coin concepts to take into account the specificity of the questions it addresses. Moreover, having to deal with learning and education, it has to face epistemological and cultural issues due to the history of education and the diversity of the relations to knowledge. As a result TEL research must manage linguistic and semantic issues in a much more critical way than it is the case for computer scientist and specialists of technology involved in this field. To respond to this challenge, the Stellar network of excellence in collaboration with the European association TELEARC, has initiated the creation of a thesaurus and a dictionary of the terms and expressions used in TEL research.

1. The TEL dictionary initiative
because beyond words there are concepts
N. Balacheff
J. Zeiliger
E. Manon
With the collaboration of
Jacqueline Bourdeau
Paul Kirchner
Rosamund Sutherland

2. Strategic challenges
• To create the TEL research knowledge base
▫ To remove ambiguity and achieve equivocality
▫ To build on the past, identify results and concepts
▫ To limit the reinvention of the wheel effect
▫ To overcome the rapid obsolescence of trends
• The communication between disciplines
▫ Horizontal multidisciplinarity
 Computer science, human and social sciences, life science
▫ Vertical multidisciplinarity
 Software engineering, artificial intelligence, HCI, etc.
 Pedagogy, psychology, education, epistemology, etc.
• The communication with stakeholders
▫ Learners, parents, employers,
▫ Teachers, trainers
▫ Decision makers, policy makers
▫ Industry, service providers

3. Step 1: the TEL open archive

4. Step 2: sort and manage keywords
International and
multidisciplinary
editorial boards

5. http://thesaurus.telearn.org

6. http://thesaurus.telearn.org

7. http://thesaurus.telearn.org

8. From this first set of keywords, choose your own!
A L R
Adaptive learning environment Constructionism Learner modeling Remote laboratories
Agent-based tutoring system Course management system Learning analytics S
Agent-based learning environment Courseware Learning companion Script ...
Ambient learning environment D Learning design --- collaboration see
Animated pedagogical agent Didactical engineering Learning environment Collaboration script
Artificial learning environment Distance learning Learning grid --- external see External script
Augmented learning environment Distributed learning Learning management systems --- internal see Internal script
Authoring system Distributed learning environments Learning objects Seamless learning
Authoring tool Dynamic geometry Learning scenario environments
Automatic diagnosis E Learning space Self-regulated learning
Automatic generation of exercises e-Assessment Learning trail Simulation games
B Educational affordance M Simulation-based learning
Blended learning Educational data mining Microworld environment
Buddy systems Edutainment Mobile learning Situated learning
C e-learning Multimedia learning T
Cognitive diagnosis Embedded phenomena N Tangible learning environment
Cognitive engineering Epistemic affordance Narrative learning Technology Enhanced Learning
Cognitive modeling Epistemic feedback environments Techno-mathematical literacies
Cognitive tutor e-portfolio Networked learning U
Collaborative learning External script --- communities Ubiquitous learning
Collaboration script G --- environment V
Computational mathetic Game-based learning O Virtual campus
Computational thinking I On-line learning environment Virtual learning environment
Computer-assisted examination Inclusive e-learning Overlay Virtual pedagogical agent
Computer-assisted instruction Informal learning P Virtual universities
Computer-assisted language learning Inquiry learning Pedagogical agent W
Computer-assisted learning Intelligent scaffolding system Personal learning environment Web-lecturing technologies
Computer-based instruction Intelligent tutoring system Pervasive learning environment
Computer-based learning environments Interactive learning environment Programmable computer-based
Computer-based laboratory Interactive white board learning environment
Computer programming in support of Internal script Programmable course
learning Integrated learning system
Computer-supported collaborative learning

9. How does all this
translate into
your own language?