What is NET? What is e-learning? Interchangeable terms?

Readings for EDPROFST 714

A Confusion of Terms

I am in the process of coming to terms with the jargon of this course and I guess Educational Technologists (is there such a term?) worldwide. From what I can gather New Educational Technology and e-learning are interchangeable terms, although e-learning focuses more on the process of learning, whereas Educational Technology focuses on the design of learning.

For myself, I find the term e-learning encompasses what I want to achieve when my students and I use electronic technologies to enhance their learning (the what and the how).

The definition found in e-Learning: Concepts and practice (Holmes & Gardner, 2006) "online access to learning resources, anywhere and anytime", fits with this. However, the word "online" needs to be explored further. My understanding was that "online" meant access to a network or the internet. A quick google search for the definition comes up with a large number of definitions, none of which are the same. A few of these are listed below:

Definitions of Online on the Web:

Any capability available or work done directly on a computer. For example, online help or online cataloging. ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/glossary.html

Accessible via a computer or computer network. Generally synonymous with the words "automated," "computerized," and "electronic." www.lib.iup.edu/instruction/glossary.html

Turned on and connected to the network. www.micro2000.co.uk/network_glossary.htm

Refers to accessing a remote computer via a terminal. Our online catalog is one example of an online database. www.wit.edu/library/Orientation/glossary.html

This is the status of a user when connected to the internet.www.broadband-guide.org.uk/jargon-buster.html

and so on ...

My interpretation of Holmes & Gardner's use of the term e-learning is that it means learning that is explored, applied and promoted through the use of computer technology. The reason I have come to this conclusion is that all the New Edudational Technologies that I can think of and have researched use computer technology - audio and video podcasts, email, internet tools such as blogs and wikis, digital video, photography, web design, interactive whiteboards... the list goes on. Am I thinking too narrowly? What about DVDs etc - can they be classified as computer technology?