Sunday Reflections | Technology vs. AI: What Do We Assume Students Already Know?

Does Context Matter?

Today, I was listening to a podcast about habits that can help us become more productive when we start our day. What are some of the things we should consider when we begin our day? During the conversation, a professor from Harvard Business School was asked about artificial intelligence, social media, the impact they have on children, the time children spend using these technologies, and the skills they need to develop to navigate a world increasingly influenced by AI.

One of the ideas that caught my attention was the professor's point that nowadays, everyone knows how to use technology. Everyone, knows, how to use a Pc, how to use computers, we are familiar with technological trends, and the question is no longer whether we should use technology or AI, but how we should use it effectively in our lives. He even mentioned that he uses every day. 

That point stayed with me. Not because I disagreed with the importance of learning how to use technology effectively, but because it made me reflect on something we may sometimes take for granted.

When we say that everyone knows how to use technology, who are we including in that assumption? Eventually, we are talking about the context where are we included. 

And from that moment I started to think, how might people's different contexts, experiences, and opportunities influence what they already know? These questions brought me back to two experiences I recently had while mentoring students. The first was with a student preparing to apply to university. During our conversation, I told her that I would send her an email with some materials. 

She asked me, "What is an email?" I was surprised.

How could someone preparing to apply to university not know what an email was? But then I started thinking about my own reaction. Why was I surprised? I know my country, I know our reality, I know in which conditions we go over the education system, particularly living outside the cities or capital province which was her case.

For me, email has been part of my life for many years. I have used it for work, education, communication, and so many other things. But that is my experience. It does not necessarily mean that everyone has had the same opportunities to become familiar with these tools.

The second experience happened during another mentorship session. We were meeting on Zoom, and it was the student's first time using the platform. Before we could even begin the conversation, we had to spend some time learning how to navigate the meeting. How do you raise your hand? How do you participate? How do you use the different functions?

And the interesting thing is that even I sometimes struggle with certain technological functions. These experiences made me reflect on something that may seem obvious, but that I believe deserves our attention.

 - Context matters.

- Exposure matters.

- Opportunities matter.

As a graduate student pursuing a PhD in Special Education, with a minor in Educational Leadership, I find myself increasingly reflecting on the assumptions we make about learners. Sometimes, we discuss artificial intelligence, digital transformation, technological innovation, and the skills students need for the future. But before we assume that everyone is ready to engage with these technologies, perhaps we should ask:

- Who has had the opportunity to learn?

- Who has had access?

- And who might be entering these spaces for the very first time?

I am not suggesting that we should stop discussing AI or the future of technology. Quite the opposite. I believe these conversations are important. But I also believe that we cannot separate digital literacy from the contexts in which people live, learn, and develop their skills. And perhaps this is one of the responsibilities we have as educators and educational leaders: to recognize that what seems basic or familiar to one person may represent an entirely new learning experience for another.

As I continue my journey as a graduate student, these are the kinds of experiences that remind me that learning does not happen in isolation. It happens within contexts. And those contexts matter.

What about you?

Have you ever found yourself assuming that someone already knew something simply because it was familiar to you? I would love to hear your reflections.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

I Believe. 🦋

#GraduateStudentLife #DigitalLiteracy #EducationalEquity #SpecialEducation #EducationalLeadership #SundayReflections #Nakholwa #ocantinhodasissieuacredito