Speaking in Code

Have you ever stepped into a conversation with professionals from another industry and felt like they were speaking a different language? Not because the content was inherently complex, but because their terminology was so specific, it might as well have been a secret code. I call this speaking in code, and it’s especially prevalent in the education sector.

Walk into any gathering of educators—whether it’s a conference, faculty meeting, or public forum—and you’ll hear “eduspeak”: a language unique to education. Terms like experiential learning, design thinking, and vertical planning are tossed around as if they’re universally understood. But step outside of our industry, and those same words often leave people scratching their heads. I’ve experienced it firsthand—when I describe my work using this jargon, I’m often met with blank stares.

Education has long struggled with effective marketing, and part of the problem is the way we communicate. If we want to improve public understanding and engagement, we need to stop speaking in code and start using language that is clear, accessible, and relatable. After all, the more people understand what we do, the more they’ll appreciate its value.