Key Terms

For those that would be interested in a different format for learning or want some clarification, here is a talk by Young Zhao: http://gallery.crpp.nie.edu.sg/view_album.php?set_albumName=album09Listen from 15:11 to 19:56 for a description of terms.

Abiotic: the inorganic materials within an ecosystem

Biodiversity: all the organisms and ecosystems within an area

Biotic: the organic elements within an ecosystem

Bond referendum:  citizens within a district vote on whether or not to sell bonds to financially benefit a specific educational project within that district

Co-evolution: the process of two species within an ecosystem adapting to each other by changing themselves

Computers in schools: a new species that has been injected into a school or district environment

Diffusion of Innovation: a theory popularized by Everett Rogers that investigates the causes, process and timeline of the spread and adoption of new innovations in a culture

Dominants: a species that can overwhelm an ecosystem, often because of abundance

Ecological approach: the idea that issues can be explored through the concepts of ecology

Ecology: the study of interrelationships between all organisms and their environments

Ecosystem: the interrelationships between all organisms and their environments, contains species and all elements that they require to survive

Educational technology: a catch-all phrase with no exact definition, within it some form of technology being employed in some form of education are its two constants

Evolution: the process by which species change to adapt to their environment and organisms within it to meet their needs

Exotic species: a species not normally found within an ecosystem

Fecundity:  ability to procreate

Habitat: the environment in which an organism lives and develops

Homeostasis: when a stable balance is reached within an ecosystem

Invasive species: a species not generally found in an ecosystem that gets introduced usually by direct or indirect human involvement

Keystone species: a species central to an ecosystem’s diversity and survival

Likert scale: a scale that is frequently used in questionnaires. It allows for answers that fall along a spectrum and is often used to determine patterns of emotions regarding a specific subject

Memes: ideas that are passed culturally for evolutionary purposes, the term originates from Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene (1976)

Native species: a species that is pre-existing within an environment and has not been introduced directly or indirectly by humans

Niche: filling a need, or providing a function within an environment, in this article different technologies may fit in the same niche

Phenotypic plasticity: the ability of an organism to change its genetic expression as a result of changes in an environment, this can be an evolution in either physical development or behaviour

Reciprocal altruism: when two species provide benefits for one another, at the cost of something to themselves

School ecology: the interrelationships between all members of a school ecosystem in this article, organic and inorganic objects, such as desks and computers, are species within this ecosystem

Teacher development: bottom-up exposure and emotions about technology are two major factors that affect teacher relationships with technology

Technology infrastructure: the framework already in place in a school, classroom or district with respect to technology. It answers the who, what, why, where, how and when of current technology use

Zebra mussels: freshwater mussel and invasive species that has infiltrated the Great Lakes, in this article it is analogous to technology

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