Glossary
Glossary
This glossary defines key terms and concepts used in InsightLens and survey analysis.
A
Academic Level The classification of university units by complexity and year level (e.g., undergraduate, postgraduate, foundation).
AI Assistant The artificial intelligence feature in InsightLens that allows natural language queries and automatic chart generation.
API (Application Programming Interface) A set of protocols that allows InsightLens to communicate with external AI services like OpenAI or Claude.
API Key A unique identifier that authenticates InsightLens with external AI services. Required for using cloud-based AI features.
B
Benchmark A standard or reference point used for comparison, such as institutional targets or peer performance levels.
Bulk Import The process of importing multiple survey files at once, rather than one at a time.
C
Campus A physical location where units are delivered (e.g., Main Campus, City Campus, Regional Campus).
Chart A visual representation of data such as bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, or word clouds.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) A file format used to store tabular data, often used for importing survey data into InsightLens.
Curriculum The subjects comprising a course of study in a university program.
D
Dashboard The main interface in InsightLens showing overview cards, charts, and recent activity.
Database The local SQLite file where InsightLens stores all your survey data and analysis results.
Data Quality A measure of how complete, accurate, and reliable imported survey data is.
Delivery Mode The method by which a unit is taught (e.g., face-to-face, online, blended, intensive).
Discipline An academic field of study or subject area (e.g., Engineering, Business, Arts).
E
Export The process of saving charts, data, or reports from InsightLens in external file formats.
Extraction The process of pulling data from PDF survey reports and converting it into structured database records.
F
Filter A tool to narrow down data analysis to specific subsets (e.g., by time period, unit type, or performance level).
Forecast A prediction of future trends based on historical survey data patterns.
G
Gatekeeper macOS security feature that may initially block InsightLens from running as an unsigned application.
H
Hover Tooltip Interactive help text that appears when you move your cursor over interface elements.
I
Import The process of loading survey data from external files (PDF or CSV) into InsightLens.
Institutional Survey Standardized survey administered by a university to collect student feedback on units.
L
Likert Scale A rating scale typically used in surveys (e.g., 1-5 where 1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree).
Local AI AI models that run on your computer rather than cloud services, providing privacy and offline capabilities.
M
Metadata Information about the survey data itself, such as import dates, file sources, and processing details.
Multi-semester Analysis Comparison of unit performance across multiple teaching periods.
N
Natural Language Query Asking questions about your data using normal spoken language rather than technical commands.
Negative Sentiment Student comments classified as expressing dissatisfaction, criticism, or concerns.
O
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Technology that converts scanned images of text into editable text data.
Ollama Software that enables running AI models locally on your computer for privacy and offline use.
Overall Satisfaction A summary measure of student satisfaction with their unit experience, often the primary survey metric.
P
PDF Processing The extraction of survey data from PDF report files into structured database format.
Positive Sentiment Student comments classified as expressing satisfaction, praise, or positive experiences.
Postgraduate University courses at master’s or doctoral level, typically requiring prior undergraduate study.
Q
Query A request for specific information from the database, either through filters or AI assistant questions.
Quick Insights Automated analysis features that highlight trending units and areas needing attention.
R
Response Rate The percentage of enrolled students who completed the unit survey (e.g., 45 responses from 100 students = 45% response rate).
Real-time Analysis Analysis that updates automatically as new data is imported or filters are changed.
S
Semester An academic term, typically lasting 12-16 weeks (some institutions use trimesters or quarters).
Sentiment Analysis Automated classification of student comments as positive, negative, or neutral.
Sentiment Score A numerical rating (-1 to +1) indicating how positive or negative a comment is.
SQLite The database technology used by InsightLens to store survey data locally on your computer.
Stakeholder Anyone with an interest in survey results (lecturers, coordinators, deans, students).
T
Temporal Trends Changes in survey metrics over time (semester-to-semester, year-over-year).
Threshold A boundary value used for filtering or alerting (e.g., “units with satisfaction below 3.0”).
Trend Analysis Examination of how survey metrics change over time to identify patterns and trajectories.
U
Undergraduate University courses at bachelor’s degree level, typically the first tertiary qualification.
Unit A single subject or course within a university program (also called “subject,” “course,” or “module”).
Unit Code The unique identifier for a unit (e.g., ISYS2001, MATH1001).
Unit Coordinator The academic staff member responsible for overall unit management and quality.
Unit Offering A specific instance of a unit taught in a particular semester, year, and location.
V
Visualization Graphical representation of data through charts, graphs, and other visual formats.
W
Word Cloud A visualization showing frequently used words in comments, with size indicating frequency.
Workflow A sequence of tasks or processes for completing analysis in InsightLens.
Y
Year-over-Year Comparison of the same unit between equivalent periods in different years.
Survey-Specific Terms
Agreement Scale Rating scale measuring level of agreement with statements (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree).
Course Evaluation Formal assessment of teaching quality and unit effectiveness by students.
Engagement Measure of student participation and involvement in the unit.
Learning Outcomes Specific knowledge, skills, or abilities students should achieve upon unit completion.
Quality Assurance Systematic monitoring and evaluation of teaching standards and student satisfaction.
Student Voice The collective feedback and opinions expressed by students through surveys and other means.
Teaching Excellence Recognition of superior teaching quality based on student feedback and other measures.
Technical Terms
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) A data format used for storing settings and exchanging information between components.
Schema The structure and organization of the database, defining tables, columns, and relationships.
Token Units of text processed by AI services, used for billing and rate limiting.
API Endpoint A specific URL where InsightLens sends requests to communicate with external services.
Environment Variable System-level settings that can store configuration like API keys securely.
Need a term defined that’s not listed here? Contact support or check the detailed documentation for specific topics.