The meta-point is that the usage of complex words is off-putting to those trying to learn something for the first time. There's always an element of "I don't know what this is, so I can skip it" but better to keep topics simple and approachable.
This is what dictionaries are for, seriously. Instead of bending backwards to serve some supposedly alienated learners, we can look the word up. When I learn something for the first time I try to be humble and put in some effort. English is not my first language, but if we start avoiding "complex" words soon we will be communicating in grunts.
What is a 'complex word'? I'm serious. If you google 'pedagogy definition' you get an easy to understand definition. If you're not willing to google things, you aren't ready to be a web developer.
Method names alone will drop you way out of the simple english, top 1k words simplification paradigm.
> usage of complex words is off-putting to those trying to learn something for the first time.
I prefer when I'm learning something new if it treats me like an intelligent person who is ignorant of that topic. So, yes, if you want to teach me something be gentle in the language from that subject. But please assume I do know some things.
The linked document seems pretty clearly addressed to both teachers and students, which might not be a great decision. If they had an entry point dedicated only to students they could probably leave out all the places where they mention pedagogy. That said, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to criticize “pedagogy” as being a complicated term. It’s okay to occasionally need to look up something in a dictionary, especially in cases like this where it’s an incredibly precise and standard word for the concept it’s referring to. You could also find and replace all mentions of “biology” with “the study of life,” but I think using these terms are fine even if a very small portion of readers need to look it up once in the dictionary.
My meta point is, "Don't give up. Everything is learnable!"
My first real tech job was in a country and office where the working language was one I didn't speak while growing up. If I came across words at work I needed and didn't know, I looked them up or asked for clarification and learned them.
It means “teaching methods”.