Today's technologies come and go at an alarming rate, and the length of time any one technology, either software or hardware, exists before being supplanted by a newer technology is growing ever shorter. For anyone working within the field of instructional technology, this rapid replacement rate of technologies can hold immense implications for both the development and delivery of educational systems. We here define the concept of technology transience, contextualize the concept over the historical time frame, and present schemas for the measurement of technology transience. We conclude by describing how technology transience is impacting the field of instructional design, the specification of 21st century skills, and the 21st century's model of education. Open questions for additional research into transience are provided.