So I am taking this course on Digital Literacies and Online Participation as part of my pedagogical training towards becoming a Professor in Computer Science. In the course, we are asked to reflect on how digital tools can be used in modern teaching and learning so to favour distance learning, life-long learning etc.

Ironically enough, the course has started just a week before the COVID-19 has broken into most of our lives. As a result of its outbreak, many universities and institutions around the globe, including mine, have suspended traditional teaching activities in favour of digital or remote ones. Classes, meeting, labs, examinations, etc. everything has been or has to be switched to these forms.

As a student and, most importantly as a lecturer, I have always found digital tools annoying as they introduce accidental complexity and don’t really contribute to an improved learning. But due to the circumstances, I have decided to keep an open mind and give digital tools another try.

Long story short. I still think digital tools are overrated when it comes of teaching and learning. But I’ve to admit they came a long way and can help byproduct activities related to teaching and learning. Another surprising realisation is that even young people, which are often considered resident (native) to digital tools in general often struggle with pedagogical digital tools.