Technophobia and the Adult Learner

          The term technophobia can be defined as the fear or dislike of technology.  Technophobia is a highly researched phobia and can also be “culturally or religiously induced” (Olesen, 2013).  Most Adult Learners “Digital Immigrants” (Prensky, 2001) who have not had access to technology as it has developed often view technology through a technophobic lens (Dimick, 2015).  At the root of technophobia is the fact that Adult Learners are not ignorant, they just do not understand technology which results in their reaction to shun its use (Olesen, 2013).  Adult Learners who are affected by technophobia experience panic, reluctance or refusal to use technology, and criticize it.  Consequently, technophobia affects an Adult Learners ability to learn in an online learning environment. 

To ease or eradicate technophobia in Adult Learning instructors should be informed and prepared.  One strategy that instructors of online learning can do is to differentiate instruction by including technology that offers “availability of formative assessments, and options of different skill levels on the same content” (Stern, 2015).  Some examples of differentiated instruction programs are NewsLea and EDpuzzle.  Differentiated instruction allows instructors to provide instruction that is individualized for their needs.

Assisting Adult Learners to conquer their technophobia can be challenging but not impossible.  By taking a few simple steps as those listed below Adult Learners can eliminate their technophobia. 

Step in overcoming technophobia:

1. Admit that they have it.
2.  Acknowledge the purpose, power and use of technology.
3. Start developing your social presence.  Open a Facebook account, Instagram, or twitter  account.
4. Do not hesitate to ask for help.
5.  Get formal training or take a technology workshop.  Start slow before taking the leap and enrolling in an online class.

Adult Learners who suffer from technophobia have the intelligence and mental capacity to learn technology just as the Millennial generation.  Some of them need patience, more guidance and support to move forward in our technologically advanced learning environments.

References:

Dimick, P. (2015, December 23). 10 Ways Adult Learners Can Conquer Technophobia. In Techatlast.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017, from http://techatlast.com/adult-learners-conquer-technophobia/

Olesen, J. (2013). Fear of Technology Phobia - Technophobia. In Fearof.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017, from http://www.fearof.net/fear-of-technology-phobia-technophobia/#comment-62736

Stern, J. (2015, March 30). Enhancing Learning through Differentiated Learning. In Edutopia. Retrieved April 26, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/enhanced-learning-through-differentiated-technology-julie-stern