Educational technology as a substitute of teacher
Answers
The sudden outburst of Online education has raised many questions.
Those who are mechanical, transactional and with a robotic mindset say that technology can solve every conceivable problem and that a a poor teacher is not required in the class. Technology will create a substitute for the teachers, and a modern classroom will be more than a substitute for the teacher.
A modern classroom is defined by technology these days. Ever since Educomp in India raised the hooplah of Smart Classes, emphasis has been on technology.
There is constant pressure on teachers and administrators to implement technology in classes. There are several advantages of making use of technology in teaching. These advantages being a uniform pattern of class, a similarity of content, identification of problem, scalability of operations and adaptation to swiftness of changes.
The question remains – can technology replace teachers ? Well, the answer is clearly no. Though beneficial, technologies can never replace a teacher.
No matter how advanced or smart a computer program or a product is, it can never come close to the knowledge and life experience a teacher brings. Several researches have been conducted and it has been proven time and again that teachers bring about a change which no technology can. A teacher simply does not impart knowledge or information. And teaching is definitely not about facts and figures. A teacher leads, guides, facilitates and mentors a student. They are role models who set an example to students and drive them towards a brighter future. Teachers inspire the personality of students. The eye contact that the teachers make and the values that they impart cannot be replicated by technology.
A good teacher encourages independent thoughts and independent learning. He/she can be a positive influence, can be an inspiration to set and achieve goals. The trust and bond between a teacher and student creates the perfect learning environment; which can never be achieved through virtual learning.
The generation today loves technology. To connect with students and help them understand better, a teacher will have to explore new ways to engage them. And, technology will certainly play an important role in achieving just that. Technology has immense potential to upgrade today’s educational system.
New educational technologies will not only energize the students, but teachers as well. Which means, even in a technology-infused learning environment, the role of the teacher will remain ever-important. Yes, it will become less traditional, but important nonetheless!
While classrooms cannot function without a teacher, the fact remains that in the near future it will be the other way around too. Facilitating learning through technology presents tremendous opportunity for both the student and the teacher to deepen their knowledge and empower themselves. The teacher will have to become a facilitator of parting trustworthy information from electronic sources to the students. Teachers versus technology are an ongoing battle.
Technology plays a supporting role, but it’s the teacher who brings it all together. Technology is certainly changing the way students learn, but it cannot be termed as a replacement for teachers. High-quality teachers create a classroom culture that motivates students and leads them on the path of success. Technology cannot inspire, help them through their struggles, help them fight back and stand up. Yes! Technology can only be a helping factor to learn, but it cannot replace the knowledge and experience that come with a teacher. So, the future of education will not be teachers versus technology, but it will be teachers plus technology.
And as long as the balance is maintained we can expect an education system that not only promotes learning, but also opens doors to creative freedom and expression.
In India, it is even more significant that technology doesn't substitute teachers as the value systems are very different. Technology can impart skills, clear some concepts but can never impart values which the teacher can impart. a tech loaded class can impart information but will not prevent the information to be misused by the students.