Tech Anxiety. Constructing a Definition Anxiety The American Psychiatric Association describes anxiety as a mood state in which a subject experiences.

Tech Anxiety

Constructing a Definition

AnxietyThe American Psychiatric Association describes anxiety as a mood state in which a subject experiences fear, apprehension, nervousness, worry, tension.

Tech Anxiety“The fear and apprehension felt by an individual when considering the  implications of utilizing computer technology, or when actually using computer technology (Maurer, 1993).”

TechnologyThe application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry: advances in computer technology

What exactly is tech anxiety?

It’s Nothing NewAn Historical Perspective on Tech Anxiety

In 1685 the French scholar Adrien Baillet, in response to the mass production of printed texts, warned that “the multitude of books which grows every day would cast Europe into a state as barbarous as that of the centuries that followed the fall of the Roman Empire (Johns 2001).”

Change, innovation, progress; all of these bring about amazing shifts in culture, but with progress comes fear, apprehension, anxiety, even severe phobia.

Reality

So what can we do?

It should be noted that in response to Baillet’s warning, his contemporaries brought about the creation of tools to help readers, such as bibliographic, lexicographic, and typographical schemes.How do we develop the tools?

Are there specific causes, such as background, culture, etc., that contribute to developing tech anxiety?

Using our understanding, how do we help reluctant users overcome phobias to become effective users of technologies?

Diagnosing the Problem

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A Two Step Model

Are there specific causes, such as background, culture, etc., that contribute to developing tech anxiety?

Computer Anxiety: “Trait” or “State”?“…at least six dimensions are involved in the construct of computer anxiety: computer illiteracy, lack of self-efficacy, heightened physical arousal, feelings of dislike, and two sets of beliefs about the role of computers in every-day life (Beckers et al., 2007).”

Fear of Computers“In a negatively significant way, computer anxiety correlates with trust and empathy toward technology and with practical experience (Dorinina, 1995).”

Computers in Human BehaviorOne major factor that contributes to tech anxiety is the sophistication of the technology in question (Tennyson, 2010).

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How do we help reluctant usersovercome phobias to become effective users of these technologies?2

The Nature of the ProblemBefore we can begin proposing solutions, we first have to address a key question. “Is tech anxiety an actual medical/psychological condition or simply a temporary state of being due to discomfort brought on by past experiences with technology?

State of MindIf tech anxiety is simply a state of mind, then users’ nervousness about technology may be addressed by simply providing more training, exposure, and practical use.

Medical/Psychological ConditionIf anxiety is a true phobia, then training/exposure will not work and may in fact exacerbate the problem. Medical and psychological treatment would be required.

Potential Solutions

The treatments most commonly described for the reduction of simple phobias include systematic desensitization, relaxation training, and cognitive restructuring (Kleinknecht, 1986; Last, 1987), usually administered over an extended period of time.

“Studies have demonstrated that relatively simple clinically-derived anxiety reduction techniques have a significant impact on perceived levels of technophobia (Brosnan 2006).”

Medical/Psychological Approach

Potential Solutions

“Results indicate training in technology integration is the most crucial factor when developing technology-related staff development models.

The more training and experience teachers have integrating technology into the curriculum, the sooner they accept and optimally use technology (Casey 2001).”

State of Mind Approach

Results are MixedShould we take both approaches?

Studies show that in some cases an extended training course provides more results than relaxation techniques attempted.

However, there is evidence to suggest that clinical treatment can be effective as well.

Implementing a Combination

Perhaps a mix of thorough training combined with anxiety reduction techniques would be the best approach.

Implications for LearningTech Anxiety in the K12 Setting

It’s Time to Face the Truth“Librarians who work with children and youth [in the K12 setting] must join the rest of the information community in taking, as a given, that computers and electronic information are a natural part of the environment of both the child and the adult.” School Library Journal/ No Time for Technophobia

Implications for LearningTech Anxiety in the K12 Setting

“Current wisdom tells us that a third of our educators are early adopters who embrace the role technology can play to improve education...”

“another third are waiting in the wings and will join when they see success...”

“and another third would rather wait until retirement, hopefully avoiding both change and technology (Gold 1999).”

Implications for LearningTraining has to be Relevant

“For staff development in technology to be successful, it should promise teachers increased productivity either administratively or instructionally (Bell 2006).”

In addition to providing tech training that is relevant to teachers’ productivity, administrators have cited the following methods to be successful:

1. Use of mentors for reluctant teachers2. Email as the entry application for reluctant teachers3. The sink or swim method

Is tech anxiety lessening with the emergence of the “Digital Native” generation? •Are we continuing to see tech anxiety among children?•Are these numbers decreasing over time, as would be expected?

Future Research is NeededNot Enough Being Done

Is tech anxiety something that needs to be clinically or psych treated or is it simply a state of mind that can be overcome?•Can tech anxiety be truly overcome with exposure to technology?•Positive and negative effects of formal tech anxiety training...

In just the same way that tools were developed to help readers navigate great amounts of text with the invention of the printing press, what types of tools are being developed to help reluctant tech users?•Who is leading the way in developing these types of tools?

Questions?