Shorthand...Red Handed

Just noticed the new shorthand logo for Logos's Mobile Education...

Now, I realize that in the big scheme of things this is small potatoes, but I am going to voice these "concerns" anyway.

Anytime a "Johnny-come-lately" chooses to appropriate a symbol, phrase, concept, etc. for a retooled purpose, it can be potentially troubling. As someone who holds a M. Ed., I see at least two issues here. One is the possibility, despite the numerous statements of clarification, that some folks will see m.Ed and think M. Ed. and conclude that an actual degree is forthcoming. The other is the toe-treading that some with M. Ed.s or any advanced degree might view as taking place. I personally don't care much about advanced degrees, but I do understand the function they are intended to serve and the amount of effort needed to attain one. Some (more at the doctorate level, I notice) can get quite persnickety about such titles.

For these reasons, I don't think m.Ed is the best choice that Logos could have come up with for a logo. That said, I open this discussion.

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Comments

Jack Caviness

Agree. Logos needs to change the logo.

Kevin Maples

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513233#Comment_513233

Logos needs to change the logo.

I agree. That's very inappropriate.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513248#Comment_513248

I think it is on the clever side. [:P]

Rosie Perera

I agree it's problematic. Even changing the period to a hyphen might help prevent it from seeming like they were trying to appropriate the status that goes with an M.Ed. degree. Nobody "owns" the brand M.Ed., so there is nobody to sue Logos, but if there were, this is the kind of thing that lawsuits are born of.

I think they are also probably trying to play a bit on the brand of edX mixing upper/lower case with a colored logo (same color red and gray but without the blue) for an online learning thing. But it's different enough that I don't think anyone could come after them for that.

NB.Mick

I don't think m.Ed is the best choice that Logos could have come up with for a logo. That said, I open this discussion

okay, I'll bite: to have a discussion one should have two sparring opinions, right?

I think we can agree that Ed is a common abbreviation for "Education" - actually so very common that it doesn't serve as a pointer to something specific, but just is a shorthand for education. Okay, let's move on to m.Ed and your observation of a certain likeness to M. Ed as abbreviating Master of Education:

Wikipedia says: The Master of Education (M.Ed., MEd, Ed.M., M.A.Ed., M.S.Ed., M.S.E., or M.Ed.L) is a postgraduate academic master's degree

What I note right away is that all those who care for that title opt for capitalizing the M of Master (and this seems to be consistant for other "masters" such as MBA, MDiv... as well). The lowercase m. thus doesn't invoke any reminiscence to a Master title for me, but immediately brings about thoughts about the standard URL notation for websites optimized for mobile access. Thus, m.Ed seems to me the optimal way to abbreviate "Mobile Education" in a logo-style way.

Moreover, three-letter acronyms have the most diverse meanings across different contexts. The page acronymfinder.com has 55 hits for m.Ed and point to 157 more on the acronymattic.com page (they disregard punctuation and capitalization). In context, while the "Ed" stands for education, Logos is not in the business of educating people about education, but of educating people about bible study and the like. Thus I think, if Logos offered a mobile theology "m.Th" education, concerns about misleading people to expect something on a university master-level would be warranted - with m.Ed not so.

Whether a pink rhombus with no likeness to the blue square is "the best choice" to denote Logos Mobile Education is something that's beyond me. But given the ubiquity of three-letter acronyms, I wouldn't be surprised if there's already an existing company or product that uses a white mEd in a blue sqare and has secured rights to this graphic (and probably not offering M.Ed. degrees, either).

Just my .02c

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513327#Comment_513327

The latest fad in labels is to make the first letter small and second upper case to designate a digital something. Could they have been going for that.

I agree, might be confusing to some...

Logos may want to reconsider this one.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513327#Comment_513327

I think we can agree that Ed is a common abbreviation for "Education" - actually so very common that it doesn't serve as a pointer to something specific, but just is a shorthand for education. Okay, let's move on to m.Ed and your observation of a certain likeness to M. Ed as abbreviating Master of Education:

I've been seeing "ED" in ads, etc. lately where it means "erectile dysfunction." The first time I saw that I was confused regarding what it was supposed to mean so it took a moment to figure it out. [:D] I guess with abbreviations Humpty-Dumpty's (or was it the Caterpillar?) statement applies—it means whatever they intend.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513394#Comment_513394

The latest fad in labels is to make the first letter small and second upper case to designate a digital something. Could they have been going for that.

I agree, might be confusing to some...

Logos may want to reconsider this one.

Then what will they do with those 4000 t-shirts they ordered?

I do know a guy with oodles of kids that can use them. [:D]

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513415#Comment_513415

Then what will they do with those 4000 t-shirts they ordered?

I do know a guy with oodles of kids that can use them.

4,000 kids? Wow!

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513399#Comment_513399

I've been seeing "ED" in ads, etc. lately where it means "erectile dysfunction." The first time I saw that I was confused regarding what it was supposed to mean so it took a moment to figure it out.

It's when your Erector Set is broken.

Dale Pritchett

What can I say? This whole line of discussion is quite interesting. I am embarrassed to display my insensitivity by saying that as far as I know, none of us here was thinking about any implicit or inferred academic designation at all when the logo was designed. I will bring this thread to the attention of others and get their feedback.

Bob Pritchett

There was a lot of discussion with the design department, about this and other options. We didn't like the original LME acronym -- it's 'lame' -- and were already hearing 'mobile ed' around the office.

The shape is a rotated version of the round-cornered square in the Logos icon.

We discussed the similarity to "M.Ed." but felt that the different casing, punctuation, and use-scenarios were enough distinction. 'm dot' is often used for mobile web sites, and 'Ed' is commonly used for education in many contexts -- Phys Ed to Distance Ed, etc. And, if there were any thought we were offering a degree (which we're not), it would be an "M. Div.", not an "M. Ed."

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513699#Comment_513699

I still like it.

David Paul

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513699#Comment_513699

Well, like I said, it is a small potatoes issue...I won't file a grievance with the M.Ed. Academy Countering Unsuitable Logos Protection Association (MEACULPA)...nor do I require one. Just felt it was something that needed to be considered. [:P]

Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513716#Comment_513716

In the first place, I find the name itself (Logos Mobile Education) not particularly informative.

Of course it's a fait accompli, but a name like "Logos Empowerment Module" or "Logos Learning Module" or "Logos in Action" would strike me as more on target.

John Besse

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/513327#Comment_513327

It is just subtly cheating - a misreprisitation. Bob and others have over stressed that they do not want the oversight of accreditatioa or American Council of education. It seems this is another way to sell the core and other products. Logos is a great product falling prey to its marketing. It will be interesting to see what the schools of the "profs'.' " may say.

The logo and the program are about profit not about affordable training and ministry.

John

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/515426#Comment_515426

I think they did it just to get a ribbing each time they go to a conference.

It wouldn't survive business conferences; everyone would be cracking up and the originating company presenter would be cringing. But who knows. Maybe academic conferences, they can keep a straight face.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/515429#Comment_515429

Personally I like LME…. LaME could be cool we could start a new saying like kids who called things sick or bad….

That LaME course was so good...

-dan

PS: BTW thanks to this thread I don't think I will think of m Ed as anything but massive erectile disfunction. Lame isn't it.. lol

Robert N

I agree. Especially since there is to be no accreditation as I understand it.

Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/522646#Comment_522646

m.Ed makes perfect sense to me. Todays younger generations are used to acronyms and a . syntax. I really don't see how it could get confused with a M.Ed. If you look at companies today and examples of branding and product identity they use it makes perfect sense. Of course some people will get confused, they always do. You could call it Logos Non-Gereee Mobile Education and you will still find people that would think they could get college credit for it. You have to do what makes sense for most of the people and their branding using m.Ed makes sense. Everyones not going to agree, after all how many denominations are there? I guess if we all agreed we would be real close to one world religion and the one world government. Maybe it's a good thing that we can disagree on some thing

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535398#Comment_535398

I still like it. [C]

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535398#Comment_535398

m.Bed ? Theological education m.Bed'd within your Logos library. You can access it while you're on the go or even while your m.Bed.

As an added bonus you get them m.Bed below if you subscribe to the whole series. Other options available.

Putting the light-hearted response aside I'm comfortable with m.Ed. Looking forward to the products release [<:o)].

I'm realistic about what it is and if I ask why not, I can't find a reason for not introducing the product. It's a case of the buyer making sure they are aware of what it is they are buying in the first place. Being a new product there will be a lot of 'marketing' but look beyond that and make a decision as to whether its a suitable need for you or not.