Fear and Acceptance: A Stroll Down EdTech Memory Lane

When Felix Jacomino, Director of Technology at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School and MISBO board member, took the stage at the ATLIS 10th anniversary conference, he invited us on a journey — not just through technology, but through every emotional rollercoaster we’ve ridden as educators trying to survive it. His big idea? Every major tech advancement first brought fear… then, eventually, acceptance. And maybe even a little love.

It all started innocently enough — with Google Search. The first time we saw students tapping away at keyboards, our collective fear was “They’re going to have all the answers instantly. They’ll never think critically again! What’s the point of even teaching?” Fast forward a few years, and we’ve accepted that Google isn’t the enemy. Instead, we’ve shifted our focus: it’s not about knowing all the answers — it’s about knowing how to ask better questions. Thanks, Google. (Mostly.)

Then came Wikipedia, and if you listened closely back then, you could hear the sound of thousands of teachers clutching their pearls. “Anyone can edit it! It’s the Wild West of misinformation! They’ll think Abraham Lincoln invented TikTok!” But over time, we came around. We realized Wikipedia could actually teach students something far more valuable than memorizing facts: how to evaluate sources, cross-check information, and read critically. Not to mention, it’s still the fastest way to settle a heated lunchroom debate about the capital of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar).

Enter: mobile phones in classrooms — cue panic number three. “It’s over. We’ve lost them to Candy Crush forever.” Phones in school felt like sneaking squirrels into a ballet recital — total chaos was inevitable. But gradually, we discovered that mobile phones could actually be powerful research tools. They became portable libraries, communication hubs, and cameras to capture learning in real time. (And yes, okay, still occasionally portals to TikTok dance battles. But we pick our battles.)

Just when we caught our breath, along came Google Docs. “Wait, they can all write in the same document at once? In real time? This is going to be Lord of the Flies with hyperlinks!” But surprisingly, it wasn’t. Google Docs turned into a collaboration dream: students brainstorming together, teachers providing instant feedback, and group projects that didn’t require exchanging 42 thumb drives.

Then we got really bold: 1:1 devices for every student. The initial fear? “Great. Now we’re just handing them screens and praying they don’t disappear into Minecraft during math.” But the acceptance was powerful: equity. Suddenly, every student had the tools they needed to access learning — regardless of zip code, background, or bandwidth at home. Felix pointed out that when 1:1 programs flop, it’s not because the devices grew sentient and walked out — it’s because of vision, leadership, and professional development gaps. (Ouch, but true.)

And then… 2020 happened. Remote learning swooped in, and with it, a whole new level of existential dread. “How do you teach students you can’t even see? How do you tell if they’re even awake?” But eventually, we saw that virtual learning opened doors too: flexibility, wider access, and yes, the universal acceptance of pajama pants as legitimate work attire. Plus, who knew we could run a whole school day without leaving our kitchens?

Finally, just as we thought we’d mastered it all, AI-assisted writing tools like Grammarly entered the chat. “That’s it. They’ll never learn grammar. Robots are writing their essays now.” But — you guessed it — we’ve come to see Grammarly and its AI cousins as coaches, not crutches. Students still need to think, but now they get a little help polishing their ideas before they click “submit.”

What’s Next? A Peek Into the Future

If history has taught us anything, it’s that more moments of fear (and eventual acceptance) are already on their way. So what’s coming next?

1. Advanced AI in the Classroom

Not just Grammarly — we’re talking about AI tutors, AI project partners, and even AI that helps personalize lesson plans. The fear? “Will teachers be replaced?” The acceptance will be realizing that AI, when done well, will be an incredible assistant, freeing teachers to focus on the truly human parts of learning: mentoring, inspiring, and building relationships.

2. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR)

Imagine history class where you don’t just read about ancient Egypt — you walk through the pyramids. Fear? “It’s too expensive, too distracting!” Acceptance? VR and AR will make experiential learning possible for every student, no passport required.

3. Blockchain for Education

It sounds scary and confusing (because it is), but blockchain technology could one day manage student transcripts, certifications, and learning credentials securely and instantly. Fear? “It’s all crypto scams and NFTs of cats!” Acceptance? It could actually simplify and secure the way we track learning over a lifetime.

The Moral of the Story?

Fear is always the first visitor when something new shows up in education. But if we stay curious, flexible, and just a little bit brave, we move from fear to acceptance — and sometimes even to innovation we couldn’t live without.

The future is coming fast. Let’s meet it with open minds (and maybe a spare phone charger).