Linzi's EDC blog

Today I had to remind myself of my love to learn; I had lost my sense of purpose within the first and second week of the digital classroom due to fear. Anxiety, fear of losing control and being unable to think or speak (write) clearly all came into play as I looked at digital in the context of educational settings. It made me realise that if I were fearful then how must my students feel. I began to question if fear prevents growth?

Knowledge can help overcome fear, but what if the student is paralysed online because they are afraid of failing, that their ignorance will be exposed, they lack the knowledge and understanding or that they will look foolish in front of peers.

Through my online lifestream, I felt detached from reality as I charted unknown territory and encountered a paradox where technology made life easier but also made it more complex.
Through the course readings particularly by Bayne (2010, 2015) and Miller (2011), I remind myself that anxiety and fear of technology are common. Fear of failure means that we care. Fear can be healthy, and as humans, it helps us survive, learn and grow. Ubiquitous computing and communication can help us promote change particularly in a world where teaching, learning, and technology are enmeshed.

references:

While reading ‘The Body and Information Technology’ by Miller (2011) I was particularly intrigued by his discussion on cyborgs and the technologies that enable “the tool and the tool user to become ‘one'”. Human-machine relationships therefore can be characterised in a number of ways and can support education and careers. Dance is no longer impossible when technological apparatuses are used to restore function and lost limbs. The question for me is when we look at cyborgs and the boundaries between human and machine, do we need a coach? Is it more of a learning process that takes place between the body and machine?   Therefore can this technology enhance the teaching and learning process or does it enhance the ability of the student?

Wayne (2014, p.15) notes that “technology and eduction would see the human neither as dominating technology nor as being dominated by it” in a post humanism position. Looking at this particular case the enhancement depends on the technology, the object, the learner and the subject.

References:

Bayne, S. (2014) What’s the matter with ‘Technology Enhanced Learning’? Learning, Media and Technology, DOI: 10.1080/17439884.2014.915851 (journal article)

Miller, V. (2011). Understanding digital culture. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.