“So far technology has hardly changed formal education at all. But a lot of people, including me, think this is the next place where the Internet will surprise people in how it can improve things—especially in combination with face-to-face learning.” – Bill Gates

(Manzo, Bill Gates promotes e-learning 2023)

Heading for Narnia?

Technology has been forging ahead at an astonishing pace, reshaping the world around us. But when it comes to education, it seems like the sands of time have stood still. As the famous quote wisely points out, ‘Technology has evolved faster than our approach to education.

But in the same light we have a new tool everyday that was designed to help us educate in a more intriguing and proficient way.

But what is it exactly that leads us not rapidly move into a future that’s so revolutionary that it feels like a strange magical unfamiliar world?

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.

Lovecraft, H.P. (1973) Supernatural horror in literature. New York, Penselvaynia: Dover Publications.

Fear the crippling emotion.

So what is it that we fear, well when a group of educators discussed feelings and thoughts off technology in their own lives based off the, visitor-resident model designed by White & Le Cornu (2011), a few things came to light.

A significant majority of individuals within the PBL_06 Group expressed profound concerns about the daunting nature of using new technologies, primarily due to the overwhelming influx of countless tools that emerge on a daily basis. The rapid pace at which novel digital solutions are introduced has created a sense of unease and uncertainty among members of the group. The constant need to adapt and learn new tools has given rise to apprehension, as individuals grapple with the challenges of keeping up with the ever-evolving technological landscape.

Which is accurate, (Odemakinde, 2023) shows 13 new AI tools in 2023 alone and that goes to show at the alarming rate at which new tools are being released.

How to Overcome Fear

Though there might be countless tools the most clear and evident way is to ensure the principles and main functions of tools, as at their core these tools have the same purpose in mind.

In essence to be able to become proficient and remove fear we require the ability to think critically, Constructing, Deciphering, Playing and Discussing, these are all parts of forming critical thinking at a first glance according to the research paper written by Cohen, E.B. (2012).

This paper provides compelling evidence of the fears individuals experience in relation to digital tools and software. The fear of making mistakes, concerns about tool obsolescence, and the daunting nature of software all contribute to the anxieties individuals face in the digital realm. Acknowledging these fears is crucial for understanding the psychological barriers that individuals may encounter and finding ways to address and alleviate them.

Closing

Digital literacy is crucial in today’s society but it cannot be considered without removing the fear associated with tools and practices and only until we slowly reshape that notion we cannot truly move towards a Digital Literacy Centered Method of Education.

• Cohen, E.B. (2012) Issues in informing Science and Information Technology. California, Santa Rosa: Informing Science Press. (Accessed: 13 May 2023).
• Lovecraft, H.P. (1973) Supernatural horror in literature. New York, Penselvynia: Dover Publications.(Accessed: 10 May 2023).
• Manzo, K.K. (2023) Bill Gates promotes e-learning, Education Week. Available at: https://www.edweek.org/education/bill-gates-promotes-e-learning/2010/01 (Accessed: 10 May 2023).
• Odemakinde, E. (2023) The 13 most popular AI software products in 2023, viso.ai. Available at: https://viso.ai/deep-learning/ai-software/ (Accessed: 14 May 2023).
• White, D. S., & Le Cornu, A. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. First Monday, 16 (9). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i9.3171