A Devils Dictionary of Educational Technology

medium.com/a-devils-dictionary-of-educational-technology-1c3ea9a0b932

24/10/2016

In the dark spirit of Ambrose Bierce, let us consider new definitions of familiar terms. Specifically, lets see what
happens when we give educational technology the Devils Dictionary (1906) treatment.

(A quick prefatory note: I started this off with one blog post. People liked that, and asked me to write more. They
also created their own definitions, which I combined with my own in another post. You can tell when a definitions
by someone else, because its in quotes and linked to a named author. Here I combine the posts, and, once
again, thank my interlocutors and co-lexicographers.)

Active learning , n. 1.The opposite of obedience lessons.

2. The strange idea that learning and learners should not be as passive as the dead. Like the dead, active
learning is a source of wonder and dread to some of the living. (thanks to Jeremiah Parry-Hill for the nudge)

Analytics, n. pl. The use of numbers to confirm existing prejudices, and the design of complex systems to
generate these numbers. (by David Kernohan)

App, n. An elegant way to avoid the World Wide Web.

Asynchronous, adj. The delightful state of being able to engage with someone online without their seeing you,
while allowing you to make a sandwich.

Badges, n. pl. The curious conceit that since nobody likes transcripts or degrees, the best thing to do is to shrink
them into childrens sizes that nobody recognizes. (see Open Badges)

Best practice, n. An educational approach that someone heard worked well somewhere. See also
transformative, game changer, and disruptive. (by Jim Julius)

Big data. n. pl. 1.When ordinary surveillance just isnt enough.

2. the Grail, the white whale, the mother lode, the object of all desireIt was all right, everything was all right,
the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Data (Ed Webb).

3. Nostalgia for Skinner boxes. (tip of the hat to Audrey Watters) (suggested by Laura Gibbs )

Blended learning, n. The practice of combining digital and analog teaching. Also referred to as teaching,
learning, and the real world.

Blogging, v. The practice of writing to and interacting with an audience through an easy to use, automatically
archiving tool. A curiosity, which might be significant if every anyone used it. Can be neatly buried by the LMS.

Chromebook, n. A device that recognizes that the mainframe wasnt such a bad idea after all. ( by gmphap1)

Clickers, n.pl. 1. Remotes without control.

2.Technology for assessing student knowledge, however mostly used for attendance purposes and
acknowledging that although they arent paying attention, students are able to click a button to give professor the
illusion of engagement. (by Amy )

Cloud, n. 1. A place of terror and dismay, a mysterious digital onslaught, into which we all quietly moved.

2. A fictitious place where dreams are stored. Once believed to be free and nebulous, now colonized and
managed by monsters. See Castle in the Air. (by Lisa Lane)

1/4
3. A just other peoples computers. ( pmasson channeling Free Software Foundation Europe)

Competency-based learning or competency-based education (CBE), n. 1. A tentative recognition that

learning might occur outside of academia. Obviously dangerous, and preferably reserved for the lower classes.

2. The recognition that learning is really about what should be learned and is really learned in a segment of
learning. (by gmphap1)

Counsel, n. Well paid, well trained in neither education nor technology, and rules decisively on (and against)
both.

Digital native, n. Student worker.

Digital rights management (DRM), n. 1. Digital leash.

2. Nostalgia for the Berlin Wall.

3. When the paranoid and misanthropic reach for Kafka to confront human beings actually using technology.

Disruption, n. 1. The God-Emperor of our era, before whom we offer sacrifices and prostration.

2. An idea that wont solve a problem that doesnt need solving, but will create the maximum amount of media
coverage whilst not doing so. A way for rich, well-educated, white men to take on the establishment. (by David
Kernohan)

Edupunk, n. Short-lived subversive concept advocating for learner empowerment and related disorders, quickly
and safely contained by deployment of approved technology such as the LMS (q.v.). See also, Connectivism,
DS106. (by Ed Webb)

Engagement, n. That which everyone talks about but really does not know what it means. (thanks to Elena)

Failure, n. 1. A temporary practice educators encourage in students, which schools then ruthlessly, publicly, and
permanently punish.

2. A temporary practice the wealthy encourage in the young, possibly to increase their desperation. ( term
suggested by Rolin Moe)

FERPA, n. An excellent euphemism for the English word no. (See also HIPAA)

Flipped classroom, n. The practice of replacing lectures that instructors give to summarize a courses readings
with videos of lectures that summarize a courses readings. (by Eric Behrens)

Forum, n. 1. Social Darwinism using 1980s technology.

2. A useful way to learners, teachers, and staff to communicate with each other on their own timelines. Rarely
used except in distance learning. (suggested by Joe Murphy )

Gaming, n. A massive cultural artifact shared by a huge swath of the human race, perhaps the most advanced
integration of multimedia and storytelling, capable of teaching in fascinating ways. Let us never speak of it again.

Google Doc, n. A collaborative web page which anyone can potentially edit; not a wiki.

HIPAA, n. A powerful synonym for the English phrase no way. (See also FERPA)

Infographic, n. An easy way to avoid reading and writing.

Innovation, n. 1. The other God-Emperor of the World.

2. A magical word applied to something youd like to do and get paid for.

2/4
3. Recognizing a good idea developed by someone else in the past, and claiming it as emergent. ( suggested by
Joe Murphy)

Interactive whiteboard, n. A stylish but expensive alternative to paintings and wall hangings.

iTunesU, n. 1. A graveyard of content.

2. When you really, absolutely want to avoid the web, yet are forced to share content outside the LMS.

Lifelong learning, n. An institutions strategy for extracting money from alumni. Also known as development.

LMS, n. 1) A document management system, whereby a faculty member can transfer a single document to his or
her students. Curiously overpowered for this purpose, nevertheless universally deployed.

2) A good way to avoid legal notices about copyright.

3) The graveyard of pedagogical intentions. A sump for IT budgets.

Luddite, n. Someone who doesnt study history, yet wants to inaccurately claim to be militantly anti-technology in
one area when simultaneously relying heavily on technology in every other aspect of their lives.

Makerspace, n. a 2004 computer lab with chairs that roll and a soldering iron. (See also Open Lab) ( by Robin
DeRosa)

Mobile, n. 1) Formerly The Great Peril, now known as That Which Must Be Shunned. To be enabled with
campus wifi, but dreaded in actual use, especially in classrooms.

2) A technology widely used by blacks, latinos, and poor people. Someday we could think about starting to
strategize about beginning to respond to this fact.

MOOC, n.. A high-profile and expensive way to put content on the World Wide Web.

Etymology is obscure; may draw on Massive Open Online Cult or Massively Open Otherworldly Course, Can
only be discussed as an American invention.

Not a monolith, colloquial. A magical phrase applied to a project to summon up more money for it.

One size fits all, colloquial. What we criticize in other peoples projects, and embrace enthusiastically in our
own.

Open access in scholarly publication, n. 1. The apocalypse of publishers, scholarly societies, and some
professors.

2. Often abbreviated as OA. Describes a publishing situation when someone else reaches for the check before
you do. Popular in Europe and in STEM publishing. In the US, however, humanities scholars usually claim to
have left their wallets at home. (by Greg Britton)

Open Badges, n. A safe gamification strategy for the LMS, rewarding student compliance with digital stickers.
Use with care: although they are technically portable, they must *never* be used for useful, transferable
recognition of learning, for that way lies the abyss. (see Badges) (by Don Presant)

Open Education Resources, n. A flexible and low cost way for students to access and produce content, while
engaging faculty creativity and providing multiple class options. Faculty are unaware of it. Further study at some
point in the future could be considered.

Open Lab, n. a 2004 computer lab with chairs that roll. (See also Makerspace) ( by Robin DeRosa)

Powerpoint, n. 1. A popular and low cost narcotic, mysteriously decriminalized.

3/4
2.Powerful tool for keeping ideas within approved boundaries. The only approved presentation technology. The
driving force behind the efficiency of the U.S. military, which is to be emulated across education. (by Ed Webb)

RIAA, n. A friendly and major stakeholder in campus technology decision-making.

RSS, n. A free, easily accessed, well documented, and flexible technology that helps people with information
overload, source management, and research workflow. There are many, many applications written that rely on
RSS. Let us never speak of it again. (inspired by Vanessa Vaile)

Shadow IT department, n. A mysterious alliance that does a lot of work on campus. It seems to include little
start-up companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and others.

Synchronous, adj. 1. Describes the terrifying realization that there is another human being online, and that they
do not think like you.

2. Describes a venue for public typos.

World Wide Web, n. A strange new technology, the reality of which can be fended off or ignored through the
LMS, proprietary databases, non-linking mobile apps, and judicious use of login requirements.

YouTube, n. The ideal educational technology: everyone likes and uses it, its reliable and free, and neither you
nor anyone you know has to support it.

(images by gags9999 and Wikipedia)

4/4