During the last week the issue of how simple changes in the words we use can have a large impact on perceived meaning has arisen on repeated occasions.
The first instance of this was in reading Drive by Daniel Pink in which he mentioned the long established practice of issuing students home work. Daniels book discusses the impact of motivation on the things we do and on the point of home work he raises the issue that generally the term work doesn’t inspire a large amount of intrinsic motivation. The task is “work” and therefore is perceived to involve no pleasure or enjoyment. As such the term home work turns students off the activity even before we have begun. He suggests that we might rename it as home learning as our urge to explore and to learn brings with it intrinsic motivation which is not associated with work tasks. A simple change.
Later in the week in a meeting discussing appraisal or performance management depending on which term you prefer, the issue of the use of the terms, reviewer and reviewee was raised. A focus on looking forward and improvement was indicated within the policy and by the appropriate senior managers however the terms reviewer and reviewee seemed to indicate a post event reflection as opposed to looking forwards. One suggestion as to a possible change in relation to the language was to use facilitator, rather than reviewer; so the facilitator of performance management or appraisal.
As an EdTech advocate I am often aware of the use of “enhance” as a term using in relation to technology use in the classroom. Again this week I saw the term used. To me the term implies a bolt on, a bit like tomato sauce enhancing chips; it isn’t required by the chips but adds to it. At its basic level, and as indicated in the first level of the SAMR model, EdTech is a bolt on however its potential doesn’t lie here. Its potential lies in its potential to redefine how we learn as well as what we learn. Again another example of a simple change in language betraying a massive difference in meaning.
Recent news has had a lot of discussion on the SATs or Standard Assessment Tests, with the term tests or testing being used almost on every occasion. This has led to lots of discussion with regards the pressure being put on students as a result of such testing. Those teachers who are trying to make the best of this prescribed activity however refer to the SATs as an assessment. They refer to them as just another tool they use in the day to day act of teaching and learning, and of assessing students to check that they are understanding, making progress and are engaged, etc.
How often do we stop and consider the words we use regularly? As I type this I notice my use of “We” as opposed to “I”. What difference does this slight change in language convey and what difference in perception of me does it encourage?
Maybe we need to find the time to stop and look at the big picture but in doing so look at the little things like the language we use as it rhough language which we communicate and are understood and it is through language that a significant part of how others perception of us is developed.