Terms: the words course pages use
A term page takes one word from the course pages, says what the providers mean by it, and quotes the providers who use it. As of 2026-09-25.
Course pages use the same words loosely; the term pages show how each provider uses them.
Each term page quotes two to four providers.
Some terms come from schools, such as academic units and capstone film; others from tool makers' academies, such as module and masterclass.
Knowing the words helps when reading a course page quickly: self-paced, live session and completion certificate each say something specific about how the course will run.
Where two providers use a word differently, the term page quotes both so the difference shows.
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- Academic units — Academic units, or credits, are the weight a university gives a course toward a qualification.
- Capstone film — A capstone film is the short film a learner makes at the end of a course, using what the course taught, often reviewed in the last session.
- Completion certificate — A completion certificate is a document a course maker issues when a learner finishes the course.
- CPD accreditation — CPD, continuing professional development, accreditation means an outside body has checked a course as suitable for professional learning records.
- Intake — An intake is a fixed start date for a group of learners who then move through a course together, as opposed to enrolling at any time.
- Live session — A live session is a scheduled online class or call, held at a set time, where learners can ask questions.
- Masterclass — On AI filmmaking course pages, a masterclass is a recorded lesson or series in which one expert works through a project, often at length.
- Module — A module is a section of an online course, usually a group of lessons on one topic; providers count them instead of, or beside, hours.
- MOOC — A MOOC, a massive open online course, is a course published on a large learning platform where anyone can enrol.
- Previs — Previs, short for previsualisation, is a rough version of a scene or sequence made before production, to plan shots, timing and camera moves.
- Residential diploma — A residential diploma is a full-time course taken while living on or near the campus, usually for a year, ending in a diploma rather than a degree.
- Self-paced — A self-paced course has no fixed class times: the lessons are recorded, and the learner decides when to take them and how fast.
- Specialization — A specialization is a set of online courses taken in order that together cover one subject, usually ending with one certificate for the series.