One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, better lock your door. Five, six, grab your crucifix. Seven, eight, gotta stay up late.Nine, ten, never sleep again…
We all know how the movie ends. When you think you finally managed to vaporize Freddy, he comes back for you. Just like Freddy technology is all around us and some fear the inevitable. Instead of being Freddy’s victims why don’t you take the lead role and be the one to beat him. Human beings fear the unknown so the best thing you can do is to face it. Grab the pitchfork and go fight the monster and it surely won’t kill you. Remember the saying “That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” (Nietzsche). Some really intelligent people have taken care of the things that “ordinary people” like us can face while using technology. Most of them are foolproof and there is no way you can break it, if you can you are a Hacker…
Some have the question in mind: Where to begin? What I think is that it doesn’t really matter as teachers always plan to adapt the things they see, hear or do. This applies to technology. Whatever you learn (easy or complicated) can be adapted into your lesson plan. Insert an image into your Word document, that’s a start although it seems like the easiest step.
A very well known grammarian expressed in his seminar that he is not a Digital Native and not even a Digital Immigrant but he was using PowerPoint inevitably. In this case you can ask for help. Digital Natives (most probably your students) will be willing to help you. Have conversations with them and ask what they are capable of doing using their computer or cell-phones. You will be amazed. This also has brings another benefit that I (probably most of teachers) experienced. It is to create and opportunity for a student to stand in there next to you and show off (Good classroom management). Generally these students are the naughtiest so you will earn their trust and nothing is going to be the same for you and them.
Remember: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Cyberphobia: is an irrational fear of or aversion to computers, specifically, the fear and/or inability to learn new technologies. It is classified as a specific phobia and is a term introduced in 1985 to refer to a sense of anxiety of aversion created by technology. (Wikipedia)
emrah akkurt 