I remember hearing a psychologist using that particular analogy, well, something similar which holds some level of truth. In my many years of dealing with children, teenagers, and adult students, I have noticed that many of them have so much potential. However, they are often limited only by the preconceived notions of their own abilities.
I don't know and I can't
I remember my daughter bringing a storybook to me. She told me that she did not know how to read the book. So I asked, which words in the book do you not know, she replied all of them. I then took the book and pointed out 5 words which I knew she would be able to read. She read them perfectly well. I then told her that if she would just try, she would notice that she was actually capable of reading most of the book. The reason why she thought that she could not, was because it seemed a bit long.
She read most of the book later on without much help. Another such incident was when I was teaching a teenager a second language. He absolutely hated it and would often stare into space or complain about how he is not able to complete the tasks given. The funny thing was that he was all in all a very bright student in other subjects. Just not the one that he hated.
So how do we swap out the old software for the new?
If only swapping out someone's software was as easy as reformatting it. The issue that I have faced over the years is more of a battle with time. Younger children are often easier to convince, but teenagers need to be inspired. With different age groups requiring different approaches, one unifying theme between all ages is being consistent.
One method that I find to be effective with my children is to always tell them the consequences of their actions. This means weighing the pros and cons of them and telling them what these outcomes will be. Is it tiring? Definitely, it gets so exasperating convincing a 4-year-old. However, but the lessons will stick with them for life.
As for teens, well, no amount of convincing will help if they are not inspired. They need stories, experiences, and openness. They need to hear your successes as much as your failures. It is embarrassing and it requires multiple attempts, but one day, something will change in their mindset and that is when you know that you have inspired them.
Conclusion
Of course, both these examples given above are but examples. While every case may be different, I think it is safe to say that the change will require time, and the rewards to a teacher of course, would be priceless.
So, if you are a teacher and are looking to swap out some software for those high-end PCs in your classroom, with patience, I'm sure they will all be updated with the latest software.