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A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve through practice and effort. Psychologist Carol Dweck introduced this concept to show how attitudes affect learning. If you have a fixed mindset and believe your skills are unchangeable, you may give up when something is hard. But with a growth mindset, you see challenges as chances to grow (Dweck, 2006).
This mindset is particularly valuable when learning new technology because digital tools change frequently and often lack intuitive design. Software updates, tool changes, and new apps are part of modern work and learning. A growth mindset helps you stay patient and motivated as you adjust.
EXAMPLE
A learner trying a new video editing tool feels overwhelmed but reminds themselves it is okay not to know everything yet—and keeps exploring until they figure out how to trim a clip.The flowchart given below shows how you can shift your thinking and take action when learning feels overwhelming. These are real strategies you can try anytime you face a challenge.
After developing a growth mindset, the next step in becoming more confident with technology is learning how to approach unfamiliar tools. When formal training is not available, using meta-skills—flexible learning strategies—can support independent problem-solving.
These strategies apply across different tools and environments. Practicing them helps reduce frustration and build confidence while learning something new.
The table below introduces three core meta-skills for learning technology. Together, they create a process for adapting to any tool.
| Strategy | What It Means | Real-World Example |
|---|---|---|
| Explore | Examining a tool’s layout without needing to know everything right away | Navigating through menus and icons to understand the structure of a new scheduling tool |
| Experiment | Trying different actions to see what happens, without fear of causing harm | Changing a setting or testing a feature in a budgeting tool to learn how it works |
| Generalize | Applying knowledge from one tool to another to shorten the learning curve | Using formatting skills from a familiar word processor in a new writing tool |
IN CONTEXT: Figuring Out a New Tool
A new employee is asked to track work hours in an online timesheet tool they have never used. There is no training, and they need to submit their hours by the end of the day.
They start by exploring the tool—clicking tabs and menus to see what is there. Then, they experiment by entering sample hours and testing buttons to see what happens. Some features look familiar from a tool they used before, so they generalize what they already know to finish the task.
By using these three strategies, the employee submits the timesheet without needing step-by-step help.
The diagram below shows how the core meta-skills for learning technology work together in a cycle. This process helps you learn faster, solve problems, and build confidence as you go.
Learning a new tool does not always go smoothly. Even with strong strategies, questions will come up. Knowing how—and when—to seek help is a key part of solving problems independently. Good help-seeking is a skill. It involves choosing the right type of support, knowing where to find it, and recognizing when it is working.
The table below shows three common sources of help, with tips and examples for how to use them effectively.
| Help Source | When to Use It | What It Is Like |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in help | Use this when first opening a new tool or trying to complete a specific task. | Click a question mark icon, open the Help menu, or search for a tutorial. A short article walks through formatting steps. |
| Company resources | Use this when a tool is used differently in a specific job or team context. | Ask a teammate for guidance. They point to a shared folder with templates and tips tailored to your workflow. |
| Communities of practice or peer support groups | Use this when built-in help does not cover advanced questions or unique use cases. | Post a question in a team chat, workplace forum, or online software group to get real-world solutions. |
IN CONTEXT: Getting Help From Multiple Sources
A remote worker is struggling with an unfamiliar video conferencing platform. They need to host a meeting later in the week but are unsure how to schedule, record, or share a session.
Instead of waiting for formal training, they begin by searching for support videos online. These short tutorials help them understand the basic functions. They also review a slide deck shared by a teammate, which includes screenshots and tips specific to how their team uses the platform. Finally, they join a workplace discussion thread where coworkers exchange advice and troubleshoot common issues together.
By using multiple help sources, they learn the platform quickly and feel confident about hosting their meeting.
Using the right help at the right time can reduce frustration, speed up learning, and build independence. Over time, learners can become more confident not just in finding answers but in deciding which kind of help will be most useful.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot can help you learn faster and solve problems in real time. These generative AI tools support AI-assisted learning—the use of AI to speed up learning or troubleshoot tasks—by offering summaries, instructions, or examples based on what you type.
What AI can help with:
EXAMPLE
An intern uses AI to shorten a long report about cybersecurity trends before a team meeting. This helps them understand the main ideas quickly and share their thoughts with more confidence.These are some of the main ways AI can support your learning, though new features are added regularly. Depending on the platform and your needs, AI may also assist with brainstorming ideas, checking grammar, organizing content, or walking through interactive tutorials.
AI works best when you provide a clear prompt. Try phrasing questions as you would ask a person, such as “How do I sort data in Excel?” or “Can you explain pivot tables in simple terms?”
IN CONTEXT: Asking AI for Help With a Common Task
A learner needs to print a poster-sized file for a class presentation but is not sure how. Instead of guessing or searching through printer settings, they ask an AI assistant, “How do I print a poster-sized file?”
The AI gives clear steps: how to adjust page size, set the print layout, and choose the right paper. The instructions are easy to follow, and the learner finishes the task without needing extra help.
While AI can be useful for technical questions like this, it is important to remember it is not a real person. Sometimes the answers may be incorrect or confusing, so it is always a good idea to double-check with another source when unsure.
Source: THIS TUTORIAL HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM OPENSTAX’S “WORKPLACE SOFTWARE AND SKILLS.” ACCESS FOR FREE AT OPENSTAX.ORG/DETAILS/BOOKS/WORKPLACE-SOFTWARE-SKILLS. LICENSE: LICENSE: CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL.
REFERENCES
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House. adrvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mindset-The-New-Psychology-of-Success-Dweck.pdf
Elon University, & American Association of Colleges and Universities. (2025). Student guide to artificial intelligence. studentguidetoai.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Student-Guide-to-AI-2025.pdf
