PulseLMS Glossary of Terms¶

Overview¶

This glossary provides definitions for key terms, concepts, and features used throughout PulseLMS. Understanding these terms will help you navigate and utilize the learning management system effectively.

Terms are organized alphabetically for easy reference.

A¶

Access Control¶

A security mechanism that determines which users can view, edit, or interact with specific resources, courses, or system features based on their assigned roles and permissions.

Activity¶

An interactive course component that requires student participation. Examples include assignments, quizzes, forums, and workshops. Activities differ from resources in that they require active engagement rather than passive viewing.

Activity Completion¶

A tracking feature that monitors whether a student has completed an activity. Completion can be based on viewing, submitting, receiving a grade, or meeting custom criteria set by the instructor.

Administrator¶

A user role with full access to PulseLMS site settings, user management, course creation, and system configuration. Administrators can modify any aspect of the platform.

Aggregation¶

The method used to calculate overall grades from individual grade items. Common methods include weighted mean, simple weighted mean, and sum of grades.

AJAX¶

Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. A technology that allows parts of a web page to update without requiring a full page reload, creating a smoother user experience.

Analytics¶

Data collection and analysis features that provide insights into learner engagement, course effectiveness, and learning patterns. Analytics help instructors and administrators make data-driven decisions.

Anonymous Posting¶

A forum setting that hides the identity of users who post messages, displaying "Anonymous" instead of their name.

API (Application Programming Interface)¶

A set of protocols that allows external applications to interact with PulseLMS, enabling integrations with other systems and tools.

Assignment¶

An activity where students submit work for grading. Submissions can include file uploads, online text, or offline work recorded by instructors.

Attempt¶

A single instance of a student engaging with an activity, particularly quizzes. Multiple attempts may be allowed depending on settings.

Authentication¶

The process of verifying a user's identity when they log in. PulseLMS supports multiple authentication methods including manual accounts, LDAP, OAuth, and SSO.

Auto-linking¶

A filter feature that automatically creates links to glossary entries or activity names when those terms appear in course content.

B¶

Backup¶

A compressed file (.mbz) containing course content, settings, and optionally user data. Backups are used for archiving, course duplication, and disaster recovery.

Badge¶

A digital credential awarded to users for achieving specific criteria. Badges can be displayed on profiles and exported to external badge repositories like Open Badges.

Block¶

A modular content area that appears in sidebars or designated regions of PulseLMS pages. Blocks display information like calendars, navigation, recent activity, or custom HTML.

Breadcrumbs¶

A navigation aid showing the hierarchical path from the site home to the current page. Users can click any level to navigate back through the hierarchy.

Bulk Actions¶

Administrative functions that apply changes to multiple items simultaneously, such as enrolling many users or moving multiple courses.

C¶

Calendar¶

A scheduling tool displaying events from courses, the site, groups, and personal entries. The calendar shows assignment due dates, quiz availability, and other time-sensitive activities.

Capability¶

A specific permission that can be allowed, prevented, or prohibited for a role. Capabilities control what users can do within PulseLMS, such as "mod/forum:addquestion" (ability to add forum questions).

Category¶

An organizational container for courses. Categories can be nested to create hierarchies (e.g., Department > Program > Year).

Chat¶

A real-time synchronous messaging activity where users can communicate simultaneously within a course.

Cloze¶

A question type where students fill in missing words or phrases within a block of text. Also known as "embedded answers" or "gap-fill" questions.

Cohort¶

A site-wide group of users that can be enrolled in courses collectively. Cohorts simplify enrollment management for large groups.

Competency¶

A defined skill or knowledge area that learners are expected to achieve. Competencies can be linked to activities and courses for skills-based tracking.

Competency Framework¶

An organized structure of competencies, typically hierarchical, that defines learning goals for a program, department, or institution.

Completion¶

The state of having finished required activities, courses, or criteria. Completion tracking enables progress monitoring and conditional access.

Conditional Access¶

Activity or section restrictions that control access based on conditions like date, grade, completion status, or user profile fields.

Content Bank¶

A central repository for reusable content, particularly H5P interactive content. Content from the bank can be used across multiple courses.

Context¶

The scope or location within PulseLMS where permissions apply. Contexts include system, category, course, activity module, and block levels.

Course¶

The primary organizational unit in PulseLMS containing activities, resources, and enrolled users. Courses are where learning content is delivered.

Course Completion¶

A feature that tracks overall course progress based on activity completion, grades, or other criteria. Completion can trigger badges, enrollments, or certifications.

Course Format¶

The layout structure for course content. Formats include Topics, Weekly, Single Activity, and Social, each presenting content differently.

Course Request¶

A workflow feature allowing users to request new courses, which administrators or managers can approve or deny.

Cron¶

A scheduled task system that runs background processes like sending emails, processing enrollments, and generating reports. Cron jobs run automatically at configured intervals.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)¶

A styling language used to control the visual appearance of PulseLMS pages, including colors, fonts, and layout.

D¶

Dashboard¶

The personalized landing page for authenticated users, displaying enrolled courses, upcoming activities, recent events, and customizable blocks.

Database Activity¶

An activity module where students create, maintain, and search a collection of entries. Useful for collaborative resource building.

Default¶

A pre-configured setting value applied when no specific value is set. Defaults can be modified by administrators.

Deprecated¶

A feature or function that is outdated and scheduled for removal in future versions. Deprecated features may still work but should be replaced with newer alternatives.

Description¶

Text explaining the purpose or content of a course, activity, or resource. Descriptions help users understand what to expect.

Discussion¶

A conversation thread within a forum, consisting of an initial post and subsequent replies.

Draft¶

An unsaved or unsubmitted version of content. Drafts allow users to work on submissions before final submission.

Drag and Drop¶

An interface technique where users move elements by clicking and dragging. Used for file uploads, question types, and organizing content.

Due Date¶

The deadline by which an activity should be completed or submitted. Due dates appear in calendars and timeline.

E¶

Editor¶

The text editing interface for creating content in PulseLMS. The default editor (Atto) provides formatting tools, media embedding, and HTML access.

Email Digest¶

A compiled summary of notifications sent as a single email instead of individual messages. Digests can be sent daily or weekly.

Embedded Question¶

A question type containing multiple question types within a single text passage. Also called Cloze questions.

Enrollment¶

The process of adding users to courses, granting them access to course content. Enrollment methods include manual, self-enrollment, cohort sync, and others.

Enrollment Key¶

A password required for self-enrollment into a course. Instructors share keys with authorized students.

Event¶

A calendar entry representing a scheduled occurrence. Events can be site-wide, course-specific, group-specific, or personal.

Export¶

The process of extracting data from PulseLMS for use elsewhere. Exports include gradebooks, course backups, and reports.

External Tool (LTI)¶

An activity that integrates third-party applications into courses using the Learning Tools Interoperability standard.

F¶

Feedback Activity¶

An activity for creating and conducting surveys and evaluations. Feedback can be anonymous and is commonly used for course evaluations.

File Picker¶

The interface for selecting, uploading, and managing files in PulseLMS. The file picker accesses multiple repositories and storage locations.

Filter¶

A text processing feature that modifies how content is displayed. Filters can auto-link text, display mathematical equations, or embed media.

Folder¶

A resource type that displays a collection of files in a single location, allowing organized file distribution.

Forum¶

A discussion activity where users post messages and replies. Forums support various formats including Q&A, single discussion, and standard discussions.

Front Page¶

The main landing page of PulseLMS visible to all visitors. The front page can display course listings, announcements, and custom content.

G¶

Global Search¶

A site-wide search feature that indexes and finds content across all courses and areas the user can access.

Glossary¶

An activity where users collaboratively build and maintain a dictionary of terms and definitions. Glossary entries can be auto-linked in course content.

Grade¶

A numerical, letter, or scale value assigned to assess student performance on activities.

Grade Category¶

An organizational container in the gradebook that groups related grade items together. Categories can have their own aggregation settings.

Grade Item¶

A single graded element in the gradebook, typically corresponding to an activity or manual grade entry.

Gradebook¶

The PulseLMS component that stores, calculates, and displays all grades for a course. The gradebook supports complex weighting and calculation methods.

Grader Report¶

An administrative view of the gradebook showing all students and their grades in a table format.

Grading Method¶

The approach used to evaluate work, such as simple direct grading, rubrics, or marking guides.

Group¶

A subset of users within a course who work together. Groups can be visible or separate, affecting how students interact with activities.

Grouping¶

A collection of groups used together for activity access. Groupings allow different sets of groups to access different activities.

Guest Access¶

A setting allowing users without accounts to view course content without enrolling. Guests cannot participate in activities.

H¶

H5P¶

An open-source framework for creating interactive HTML5 content such as presentations, quizzes, and interactive videos.

Hidden¶

A visibility state where content exists but is not shown to students. Instructors can hide activities, sections, or courses.

Hotspot¶

An interactive image area that reveals information or accepts clicks. Used in H5P content and some question types.

HTML¶

Hypertext Markup Language. The standard language for creating web content, used in PulseLMS for formatted text and custom pages.

I¶

iCal¶

A calendar file format (.ics) used for exporting and subscribing to calendars. PulseLMS calendars can be exported to external applications.

IMS Common Cartridge¶

An interoperability standard for educational content that allows importing and exporting course materials between different learning systems.

Import¶

The process of bringing data or content into PulseLMS from external sources, including course backups, user lists, and grade data.

Instructor¶

A common term for the Teacher role. Instructors create and manage course content and grade student work.

Interoperability¶

The ability of PulseLMS to exchange data and work with other systems and tools through standards like LTI, SCORM, and xAPI.

J¶

JavaScript¶

A programming language used to create interactive features on web pages. Many PulseLMS features require JavaScript to be enabled in browsers.

JSON¶

JavaScript Object Notation. A data format used for storing and exchanging information, particularly in web services and APIs.

JUNK/Spam Filter¶

A message setting that filters out potentially unwanted messages based on content or sender patterns.

K¶

The ability to navigate and interact with PulseLMS using only a keyboard, important for accessibility.

Knowledge Base¶

A collection of documentation, FAQs, and help resources available within PulseLMS to assist users.

L¶

Label¶

A resource type used to add text, images, or media directly on the course page without linking to a separate page.

LDAP¶

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. A method of authenticating users against an external directory service.

Learning Analytics¶

Advanced data analysis tools that identify patterns in learner behavior and predict outcomes to support intervention and improvement.

Learning Management System (LMS)¶

Software for creating, delivering, managing, and tracking online education and training programs. PulseLMS is an LMS.

Learning Path¶

A structured sequence of courses or activities that learners follow to achieve specific learning objectives.

Learning Plan¶

A personalized plan tracking a user's progress toward competency achievement, consisting of competencies and evidence.

Lesson¶

An activity that delivers content in an adaptive way, with branching paths based on student responses.

Log¶

A record of user activities and system events. Logs track page views, submissions, grades, and other actions.

The process of authenticating and gaining access to PulseLMS using credentials or single sign-on.

LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability)¶

A standard that allows external learning tools to integrate securely with PulseLMS.

M¶

Manager¶

A user role with course management capabilities across multiple courses or categories, without full administrator access.

Manual Enrollment¶

The process of an instructor or administrator directly adding users to a course.

Marking Guide¶

A grading method using free-form criteria with frequently used comments and score ranges.

MathJax¶

A JavaScript library for rendering mathematical equations and formulas in web browsers.

Media¶

Audio, video, and other multimedia content embedded or linked within PulseLMS.

Message¶

A private communication between users within PulseLMS. Messages appear in the messaging interface and can generate notifications.

Meta Course¶

A course that inherits enrollments from other courses. Enrolling in a child course automatically enrolls users in the meta course.

Mobile Browser Access¶

PulseLMS is fully accessible through any modern mobile web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). The responsive design automatically adapts to your device's screen size for an optimized mobile experience. There is no separate mobile app - simply visit PulseLMS in your phone's browser.

Module¶

An activity or resource instance within a course. Each quiz, assignment, or file is a module.

N¶

The system of menus, links, and paths that allow users to move through PulseLMS.

A sidebar block providing hierarchical navigation through the site, courses, and course content.

Notification¶

An alert informing users of events such as new messages, forum posts, or grade updates. Notifications can be delivered via email, web, or mobile.

O¶

OAuth¶

An authentication protocol allowing users to log in using credentials from external services like Google or Microsoft.

Offline Activity¶

A grade item that tracks work completed outside PulseLMS, with grades entered manually.

Open Badges¶

An open standard for digital credentials that allows badges to be shared and verified across platforms.

Orphaned Files¶

Files that remain in storage but are no longer linked to any content. Orphaned files may be cleaned up by administrators.

Outcome¶

A learning outcome or objective that can be tracked and graded separately from activity grades.

Override¶

A setting that changes a permission or grade for a specific user, different from the default.

P¶

Page¶

A resource type for displaying formatted text, images, and media on a single web page within a course.

Parent Role¶

A role that can view another user's information, typically used for guardian access to student data.

Participant¶

A user enrolled in a course, regardless of their specific role (student, teacher, etc.).

Password Policy¶

Rules governing password requirements such as minimum length, required characters, and expiration.

Peer Assessment¶

An evaluation method where students grade or provide feedback on each other's work, typically in Workshop activities.

Permission¶

An authorization setting that allows or denies specific actions. Permissions are assigned to roles and can be overridden in specific contexts.

Plugin¶

An add-on component that extends PulseLMS functionality. Plugins include activity modules, themes, authentication methods, and more.

Portfolio¶

A feature allowing users to export and collect work samples to external portfolio systems.

Post¶

A message submitted to a forum discussion, either as an initial topic or a reply.

Preference¶

A user setting that customizes personal behavior, such as notification delivery, email format, or editor choice.

Profile¶

A user's personal information page displaying name, picture, description, and activity history.

Progress Bar¶

A visual indicator showing completion status, typically displaying the percentage of activities or criteria completed.

Q¶

Question Bank¶

A repository of quiz questions organized by categories. Questions can be reused across multiple quizzes.

Question Category¶

An organizational folder within the question bank for grouping related questions.

Question Type¶

The format of a quiz question, such as multiple choice, true/false, short answer, or essay.

Queue¶

A list of pending tasks or processes waiting to be executed, such as email delivery or enrollment processing.

Quiz¶

An assessment activity consisting of questions that can be graded automatically or manually.

R¶

Random Question¶

A quiz element that selects questions randomly from a specified category, creating unique quiz versions for each student.

Rating¶

A numerical or scale evaluation that users can give to forum posts, glossary entries, or database entries.

RecordRTC¶

A recording feature allowing users to capture audio or video directly in the browser for submissions.

Report¶

A data display showing information about users, courses, activities, or grades. Reports help with monitoring and analysis.

Repository¶

A storage location from which files can be accessed in PulseLMS. Repositories can be local or external (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).

Resource¶

Static course content that students view but don't interact with actively, such as files, pages, URLs, and folders.

Restore¶

The process of recreating a course or content from a backup file.

Restriction¶

A condition that limits access to an activity or section based on criteria like dates, grades, or completion status.

Rich Text Editor¶

A visual editor (like Atto or TinyMCE) that allows formatted text creation without writing HTML code.

Role¶

A defined set of permissions that determines what a user can do in PulseLMS. Common roles include Student, Teacher, and Manager.

Rubric¶

A grading method using a matrix of criteria and levels with defined point values for consistent assessment.

S¶

Scale¶

A custom grading measure using text options instead of numbers, such as "Beginning, Developing, Proficient, Exemplary."

SCORM¶

Sharable Content Object Reference Model. A standard for packaging and tracking e-learning content.

Section¶

A content area in a course, typically representing a topic or week. Sections contain activities and resources.

Self-Enrollment¶

An enrollment method allowing users to add themselves to courses, optionally with an enrollment key.

Session¶

A period of authenticated access to PulseLMS, from login to logout or timeout.

Settings¶

Configuration options that control how features behave. Settings exist at system, category, course, activity, and user levels.

Short Name¶

A brief identifier for courses or categories, used in URLs and navigation where space is limited.

Single Sign-On (SSO)¶

An authentication method allowing users to log in once to access multiple systems, including PulseLMS.

Site¶

The entire PulseLMS installation, encompassing all courses, users, and content.

Site Administration¶

The administrative area for managing site-wide settings, users, plugins, and configuration.

SMTP¶

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The standard for sending email, configured in PulseLMS for notifications.

Spam¶

Unwanted or irrelevant messages, typically filtered or blocked in messaging systems.

Standard Log¶

The detailed activity log recording all user and system events in PulseLMS.

Stealth Activity¶

An activity that is available but not visible on the course page. Students access it only through direct links.

Student¶

A user role with permission to participate in course activities and view content, but not modify the course structure.

Submission¶

Work submitted by a student for an assignment, including files, online text, or recorded media.

Survey¶

A predefined set of questions for gathering feedback about course effectiveness (using built-in survey activity).

Suspend¶

To temporarily disable a user account, preventing login while preserving data and enrollments.

T¶

Tag¶

A keyword or label attached to content for categorization and discovery. Tags enable search and filtering.

Teacher¶

A user role with permission to manage course content, enroll users, grade work, and run reports within their courses.

Template¶

A pre-configured structure used as a starting point for creating new courses, badges, or other elements.

Text Filter¶

A processing system that modifies displayed text, such as converting emoticons or linking glossary terms.

Theme¶

A visual design template controlling the appearance of PulseLMS, including colors, layouts, and styling.

Timeline¶

A chronological display of upcoming deadlines and events across all enrolled courses.

Time Zone¶

The geographic time setting affecting when dates and times are displayed. Users can set their preferred timezone.

Token¶

A secure string used for API authentication or password reset links. Tokens provide secure access without passwords.

Topic¶

A section format where content is organized by subjects rather than weeks.

Tracking¶

The monitoring of user activity, completion, and progress through courses and activities.

Turnitin¶

A plagiarism detection service that can be integrated with PulseLMS assignments.

U¶

Unenroll¶

To remove a user's access to a course by ending their enrollment.

Upload¶

The process of transferring files from a user's device to PulseLMS storage.

URL Resource¶

A course resource that links to an external web page.

User¶

An individual account in PulseLMS with a unique username and profile.

User Report¶

A gradebook view showing all grades for a single student across all graded activities.

User Tour¶

An interactive guided walkthrough that introduces users to features and navigation in PulseLMS.

V¶

Validation¶

The process of checking data for correctness before processing, such as verifying email formats or required fields.

Video Conference¶

A synchronous meeting tool integrated with PulseLMS, such as BigBlueButton, for live video sessions.

View¶

The display or report of information, such as "User view" of grades showing a student's perspective.

Visibility¶

The state determining whether content can be seen by users. Items can be shown, hidden, or available with restrictions.

W¶

WCAG¶

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.

Web Service¶

An API interface allowing external applications to interact with PulseLMS programmatically.

Webinar¶

A web-based seminar conducted through video conferencing tools integrated with PulseLMS.

Weekly Format¶

A course format that organizes sections by calendar weeks with specific date ranges.

A small interface element displaying specific information, such as a progress indicator or status display.

Wiki¶

A collaborative activity where users create and edit web pages together, building shared content.

Workflow¶

An assignment setting requiring students to confirm submission completion before grading can occur.

Workshop¶

An activity supporting peer assessment, where students submit work and evaluate their peers' submissions.

X¶

xAPI¶

Experience API (also called Tin Can). A standard for tracking learning experiences across different systems and contexts.

XML¶

Extensible Markup Language. A data format used for storing and exchanging structured information, including backup files.

Y¶

YouTube Integration¶

The ability to embed and play YouTube videos directly within PulseLMS content using filters or the media player.

Z¶

ZIP¶

A compressed file format used for packaging multiple files together, commonly used for backup files and plugin installations.

Zone¶

In calendar contexts, refers to time zones. In drag-and-drop questions, zones are target areas where items can be placed.

Additional Terms¶

Accessibility¶

The practice of making PulseLMS content and functionality usable by people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. PulseLMS follows WCAG guidelines.

Active Learning¶

An instructional approach that engages students in the learning process through activities and discussions, supported by interactive activities in PulseLMS.

Activity Report¶

A detailed log of user interactions with a specific activity, showing views, attempts, and submissions.

Admin Presets¶

Pre-configured collections of administrative settings that can be imported to quickly configure a site.

Advanced Grading¶

Enhanced grading methods beyond simple point scoring, including rubrics, marking guides, and competency-based grading.

Announcements Forum¶

A special forum type where only teachers can post, used for course-wide announcements that are typically emailed to all participants.

Asynchronous Learning¶

A learning model where students access materials and complete activities at their own pace, without real-time interaction requirements.

Attendance¶

A module for tracking student presence in classes, either online or in-person, with configurable status options.

Automated Backup¶

Scheduled backup jobs that run automatically to preserve course content without manual intervention.

Avatar¶

Another term for profile picture; the image that represents a user throughout PulseLMS.

Backpack¶

An external service for storing and sharing digital badges, following the Open Badges standard.

A graphical element displayed prominently on the site or course page, often used for announcements or branding.

Batch Operation¶

A process that applies the same action to multiple items simultaneously, improving administrative efficiency.

An assignment grading mode where student identities are hidden from graders to reduce bias.

Blog¶

A personal journaling feature where users can publish posts visible to others based on privacy settings.

Book¶

A multi-page resource organized into chapters and subchapters, ideal for structured content delivery.

Bootstrap¶

The front-end framework used by PulseLMS themes to create responsive, mobile-first designs.

Branding¶

The customization of PulseLMS appearance with organizational logos, colors, and styling.

Cache¶

Temporary storage of data to improve performance by reducing database queries and file system access.

Calculated Question¶

A quiz question type that generates random numerical values and calculates correct answers using formulas.

CAPTCHA¶

A security feature that verifies users are human during registration or login, preventing automated spam.

Certificate¶

A formal recognition document that can be generated and awarded upon course completion.

Child Course¶

In meta-course configurations, a course whose enrollments are synchronized to a parent course.

Choice¶

An activity where students select from predefined options, useful for polls, sign-ups, or preference gathering.

Chronological Order¶

The arrangement of content or events by date and time, oldest to newest or vice versa.

Clean URL¶

User-friendly URLs that use readable paths instead of query parameters, improving SEO and usability.

CLI (Command Line Interface)¶

Text-based administration tools accessed via terminal, useful for automation and advanced operations.

Cluster¶

A lesson feature that groups pages together for randomized presentation within defined parameters.

Code Snippet¶

A small section of programming code, often displayed with syntax highlighting in course content.

Comments Block¶

A feature allowing users to add comments to course pages or activities for informal discussion.

Communication Preferences¶

User settings controlling how they receive and interact with messages and notifications.

Community Hub¶

A central location for finding and sharing courses, plugins, or resources with other users.

Confidential¶

A setting that restricts access to sensitive information, such as limiting who can view certain reports.

Confirmation Email¶

An automated message sent to verify email addresses or confirm actions like enrollment.

Connected Accounts¶

External service accounts linked to a PulseLMS profile for single sign-on or data sharing.

Course Contact¶

Users displayed on course pages as contact points, typically teachers or coordinators.

Course Creator¶

A role allowing users to create new courses within specified categories.

Course Image¶

A visual representation displayed in course listings and headers, helping identify courses.

Course Meta Data¶

Additional information about courses such as custom fields, tags, or categorization.

Course Reset¶

A function that clears student data from a course while retaining content and settings.

Course Summary¶

A brief description of course content and objectives, displayed in course listings.

Criteria¶

Specific requirements that must be met for badges, course completion, or competency achievement.

Custom Certificate¶

A plugin that generates personalized PDF certificates with configurable layouts and data.

Custom Field¶

Additional data fields beyond standard profile or course information, defined by administrators.

Data Privacy¶

Features and policies governing the collection, storage, and use of personal information in compliance with regulations.

Data Retention¶

Policies determining how long user data is stored before automatic deletion or anonymization.

Default Settings¶

Pre-configured values applied to new courses, activities, or user accounts unless specifically changed.

Delete Request¶

A user-initiated process to remove their personal data from the system, per privacy regulations.

Dependency¶

A requirement that must be satisfied before accessing content, such as completing a prerequisite activity.

Direct Grading¶

Simple numerical or letter grade assignment without rubrics or advanced criteria.

Download Timeout¶

The maximum time allowed for file downloads before the connection is terminated.

Drag and Drop into Text¶

A question type where students drag words or phrases into blanks within a text passage.

Drag and Drop Markers¶

A question type where students place markers at specific locations on an image.

Drag and Drop onto Image¶

A question type where students drag items to designated zones on a background image.

Dropbox¶

An external file storage service that can be integrated as a repository in PulseLMS.

Duplicate¶

To create a copy of an activity, section, or course with identical content and settings.

Duration¶

The length of time allowed for activities such as quizzes or the period of enrollment access.

Dynamic Cohort¶

A cohort whose membership updates automatically based on user profile criteria.

Embedded Content¶

Media or interactive elements included within page content rather than linked externally.

Emoji¶

Small pictographic symbols that can be inserted into text for expressive communication.

Enable¶

To activate a feature, plugin, or setting that may be disabled by default.

End Date¶

The conclusion date for courses, activities, or enrollments, after which access may be restricted.

Enrollment Duration¶

The period during which a user maintains access to a course after initial enrollment.

Enrollment Plugin¶

A component that provides a specific method for adding users to courses automatically or manually.

Entry¶

A record in a database activity or glossary, containing user-submitted information.

Equation Editor¶

A tool for creating and displaying mathematical formulas and expressions in course content.

Error Log¶

A system record of problems and exceptions occurring during operation, useful for troubleshooting.

Essay Question¶

An open-ended question type requiring free-form written responses graded manually.

Evidence¶

Documentation supporting competency achievement, such as completed activities or uploaded artifacts.

Expiry¶

The point at which access, credentials, or content become invalid and require renewal.

Extended Characters¶

Special characters beyond basic ASCII, including accented letters and symbols from various languages.

Extension¶

Additional time granted beyond the original deadline for assignments or quizzes.

External Blog¶

A blog hosted outside PulseLMS that can be linked to user profiles for content aggregation.

External Database¶

An enrollment or authentication method that syncs user data from an external database system.

Facilitator¶

An alternative term for instructor, emphasizing guidance rather than direct teaching.

Fail¶

An outcome indicating that a learner did not meet the minimum requirements for passing.

FAQ Activity¶

A structured question-and-answer format, sometimes implemented through forums or glossaries.

Favorite¶

A personal bookmark for quick access to frequently used courses or resources.

Feature Flag¶

A configuration toggle that enables or disables specific functionality, often for testing new features.

File Area¶

A designated storage location within PulseLMS for different types of file content.

File Size Limit¶

The maximum allowed size for uploaded files, configurable at various levels.

File Type¶

The format of a file, typically indicated by its extension, which may be restricted for security.

Financial Aid¶

Integration features for tracking payment status and eligibility for course access.

Finish Attempt¶

The action of completing and submitting a quiz attempt for grading.

First Access¶

The initial time a user enters a course or activity, often used for reporting purposes.

Flag¶

A marker that users can place on quiz questions for review, or a reporting mechanism for inappropriate content.

A simplified navigation structure without deep hierarchical nesting.

Forced Setting¶

A configuration that cannot be overridden at lower levels, enforced by administrators.

Forum Digest¶

A compiled summary of forum posts sent as a single email at scheduled intervals.

Forum Rating¶

A numerical evaluation applied to individual forum posts by other users.

Forum Reply¶

A response to an existing discussion post, continuing the conversation thread.

Forum Subscription¶

The enrollment for receiving notifications about new posts in a forum.

Forum Thread¶

A sequence of related posts starting from an initial topic through all replies.

Forum Topic¶

The initial post that begins a new discussion thread in a forum.

Fullscreen¶

A display mode that expands content to fill the entire browser window.

Gamification¶

The application of game-like elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards to learning.

General Section¶

The first section of a course, typically containing introductory content and resources.

Gradebook Setup¶

The configuration interface for organizing grade items, categories, and calculation methods.

Grade History¶

A record of all grade changes over time, showing original and modified values.

Grade Letter¶

A character-based representation of achievement levels (A, B, C, D, F).

Grade Override¶

A manually assigned grade that supersedes automatically calculated values.

Grade Pass¶

The minimum grade required to be considered successful in an activity or course.

Graded By¶

Information about who assigned a grade, whether automatically or by a specific user.

Grading Period¶

A defined timeframe for organizing grades, such as semesters or terms.

Grading Scale¶

A defined set of grade values and their corresponding meanings or point ranges.

Grading Status¶

The current state of grading for a submission, such as pending, graded, or reviewed.

Graph¶

A visual representation of data, used in reports to display trends and patterns.

Grid Format¶

A course layout displaying sections as visual tiles or boxes in a grid pattern.

Guest¶

A user accessing content without a full account, typically with view-only permissions.

GUID¶

Globally Unique Identifier. A distinctive code used to identify records across systems.

Help Icon¶

An interactive element (often a question mark) that displays contextual assistance when clicked.

Hide/Show¶

Toggle controls for setting content visibility to specific user groups.

Hierarchy¶

The organizational structure of nested elements, such as categories within categories.

High Contrast¶

An accessibility display option that increases color contrast for better visibility.

History¶

A record of past activities, changes, or versions for auditing and review purposes.

Home¶

The primary landing page of the site or a course, serving as the central starting point.

Hooks¶

Extension points in the code that allow plugins to modify or extend core functionality.

HTTPS¶

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Encrypted communication protocol required for security.

Hub¶

A central connection point for sharing resources or syncing data between sites.

Icon¶

A small graphical symbol representing an action, status, or content type.

ID Number¶

A unique identifier field for courses, activities, or users, often matching external systems.

Identity Provider¶

An external service that authenticates users and provides identity information via SSO.

Iframe¶

An HTML element that embeds external content within a PulseLMS page.

Image Gallery¶

A collection of images displayed together, often created through database activities or H5P.

Import Grades¶

The process of uploading grade data from external sources into the gradebook.

Inactive¶

A state indicating no recent activity or a disabled status for users or content.

Inclusion¶

Making content and activities accessible and welcoming to learners of all abilities and backgrounds.

Index¶

A listing of content organized for quick reference and navigation, such as glossary indexes.

Inherited¶

Settings or permissions passed down from higher contexts to lower levels automatically.

Acronyms and Abbreviations¶

Acronym	Full Term
AJAX	Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
API	Application Programming Interface
CSS	Cascading Style Sheets
DB	Database
FAQ	Frequently Asked Questions
GUI	Graphical User Interface
H5P	HTML5 Package
HTML	Hypertext Markup Language
IMS	Instructional Management Systems
JSON	JavaScript Object Notation
LDAP	Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
LMS	Learning Management System
LTI	Learning Tools Interoperability
MBZ	PulseLMS Backup Zip
OAuth	Open Authorization
PDF	Portable Document Format
PHP	PHP Hypertext Preprocessor
REST	Representational State Transfer
SAML	Security Assertion Markup Language
SCORM	Sharable Content Object Reference Model
SMTP	Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SOAP	Simple Object Access Protocol
SQL	Structured Query Language
SSO	Single Sign-On
URL	Uniform Resource Locator
WCAG	Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
xAPI	Experience API
XML	Extensible Markup Language

Quick Reference by Category¶

User Roles¶

Administrator, Manager, Course Creator, Teacher, Non-editing Teacher, Student, Guest, Authenticated User

Activity Types¶

Assignment, Quiz, Forum, Workshop, Wiki, Glossary, Database, Chat, Choice, Feedback, Lesson, SCORM, Survey, External Tool

Resource Types¶

File, Folder, Page, URL, Book, Label, IMS Content Package

Grade, Gradebook, Grade Item, Grade Category, Aggregation, Scale, Outcome, Rubric, Marking Guide

Dashboard, Navigation Drawer, Breadcrumbs, Blocks, Course Index

Authentication Methods¶

Manual, LDAP, OAuth, SAML, SSO, Self-Registration, Email-based

Enrollment Methods¶

Manual, Self-enrollment, Cohort Sync, Guest Access, Meta Link, Payment

This glossary is for PulseLMS. Terms and features may vary based on version and configuration. For the most current definitions, consult your system administrator.