The language educators use to communicate can either inform or confuse. To someone outside a given field, specialized vocabulary can seem as foreign as a different language. Such specialized language pervades education. To the rescue: The Lingo of Learning: 88 Education Terms Every Science Teacher Should Know. This new book by Alan Colburn is an up-to-date compendium of terms and vocabulary often used in educational research.
If you've forgotten Bloom's Taxonomy, here's a cogent summary. The section on “the” scientific method is superb and avoids any of the simplistic outlines for scientific investigation that have fueled so many misconceptions about scientists and their work. Instead, this section deals admirably with the spirit of discovery and the generation of new ideas.
The only weakness is in the index. Many terms, such as accommodations, visualization techniques, dyslexia, and classroom and behavior management that are central to the instruction of students with recognized learning disabilities are largely absent from the index. Fortunately, these key terms are embedded in sections on inclusion and diversity, and the excellent treatment makes it well worth the effort to find and highlight them.
Although it is aimed at science teachers, this superb reference would serve parents, journalists, and government officials equally well. It is sure to get lots of use on a teacher’s desk.