Use of Technology in Education
Can teacher replace teacher?
Is teacher replaceable by technology?
Is the need for human teachers being eliminated?
The answer to these questions is another question. The question is why do we ask such questions? Has anything as such happened where humans are replaced by technology?
Click on the below-mentioned image to navigate to the blog post of Professor Dr Dilip Barad Sir titled 'Can technology replace teacher?'
'We’re headed for a world where you’re either going to be able to write algorithms and speak that language or be replaced by algorithms.'
-Bridgewater hedge-fund billionaire Ray Dalio
Introduction-
We live in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Pervasive, but mostly hidden, it is taking over many jobs, devices, technologies and media, promising to transform all fields, from industry and commerce to medicine and education (Hawkins and Blakeslee 2007, Nilsson 2009)
AI is everywhere!
Well, just before a year it was almost impossible for some traditional teachers to integrate technology in their classrooms but the wave of COVID 19, hit them in such a way that their classrooms have now been shifted to the online platform. From a decade or more it was observed that students have developed an attitude of self-learning by referring to books and obviously by 'googling their doubts'. Now that machine or say AI are so much powerful in terms of content delivering and catering the urgent needs of the students, it becomes inevitable to curiously doubt the place of the teacher in the world of AI, Technology!
Education adapts Technology-
While Human Intelligence aims to adapt to new environments by utilizing a combination of different cognitive processes, Artificial Intelligence aims to build machines that can mimic human behaviour and perform human-like actions. The human brain is analogous, but machines are digital. In education, what if an AI will be a teacher? Well, this question itself is an answer that technology has already occupied the major space of the teacher and is also assisting the teacher to perform in a better way in catering to the needs of the students.
But nowadays, technological tools have been of great help to students that is to say they can surely pass the examination without the help of a teacher. But the purpose of education is only to pass exams? Isn't education serving more than that? Of course, education allows us to find the meaning behind everything and helps improve our lives in a profound manner. If we assume for now that teachers have already been replaced by technology than we must know what is the actual role of teacher and how if the teacher practises such a practice can hardly be replaced by technology.
What shall teachers do so that they are not replaceable by technology?
The first role of a teacher is to make the students or learners 'How to think?' so it can be nothing wrong in assuming that teachers develop curiosity and enhance creativity.
The major thing - the role of a teacher is not only to teach but to 'educate'. Technology may teach but the overall development of a student can be shaped or nurtured by a teacher.
Technology can 'teach'
but
Teachers can 'educate'
A teacher teaches the very nature of things, of life, of the world which is not only about achievements or disappointments but also about the journey, the suffering, the effort. If this particular thing is given to technology to teach, then we may assume that whatever it will teach, will seem as preaching.
Let's assume this in words of Julian Barnes-
If Machine, AI teaches literature, it will teach-
"Literature was all about: love, sex, morality, friendship, happiness, suffering, betrayal, adultery, good and evil, heroes and villains, guilt and innocence, ambition, power, justice, revolution, war, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, the individual against society, success and failure, murder, suicide, death, God. And barn owls. Of course, there were other sorts of literature— theoretical, self-referential, lachrymosely autobiographical—but they were just dry wanks." (Barnes)
If a teacher teaches literature, s/he will teach-
"Real literature - about psychological, emotional and social truth as demonstrated by the actions and reflections of its protagonists; the novel was about character developed over time.
Not only Yes v. No, Praise v. Blame, Guilt v. Innocence" (Barnes)
But also the things in between all the fundamentals.
The reinforcement which a student will receive from a teacher is impossible to be replaced by the technology.
Teachers work with the individual psychological development and can give better advice for the betterment of student's life while technology may be helpful in motivating but not in presenting real psychological faults of the students.
“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Students can acquire information, earn good grades and become scientists, but can you draw certain similarities between some NASA scientist and some violent people who have involved themselves with a terrorist group?
What makes this difference is in their education, their learning environment which is majorly influenced by a TEACHER. So, a teacher not only builds good intelligence but also a good character.
What major difference do you see in the use/integration of technology in teaching and learning after Corona Pandemic? Write in brief. Not more than 3 points.
It has enabled the 24*7 learning environment where the role of the teacher becomes evident to connect learning with the present world.
It is curiously interesting to observe how the use/integration of technology in teaching and learning after Corona Pandemic has enabled a kind of New learning environment, the old theories and methods have to be modified and it has really tested the students as well as teachers potential to adapt with technology in a creative way. So, it has enabled all to start or begin from zero in learning technology to mastering it.
How many and which advertisements are shown in the last video? What is the message of these ads? What is the message of the last video shown in it? What are your two 'take-aways' from this video?
In the last video of Prof. Dr Dilip Barad Sir two advertisements were shown.
Internet Baby-
One was of an infant born in a hybrid space of technology and adapts it in such a way that it is a part of everyday living as well as a natural and integrated part.
Technology is one of the bones of the human body.
Education for all-
The other was developing a habit of 'multitasking' while working with technology. The way a teacher was teaching a number of students from remote areas. So, if there is any issue of studying under one roof than is may be solved with this kind of manner of adapting technology.
Speed - Time and Space are important components which were discussed.
The last video was about how to avoid corruption with the help of technology.
An Indian talks about how to remove corruption. A man
Conclusion-
"The teacher who is replaceable must be replaced by technology - and the earlier, the better."
But on the other hand, students are in dire need of the teachers who are daily putting their efforts in forcing students to relearn new things and develop their creativity in such a way that it becomes hard to replace the skill by the technology.
“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.”
– Bill Gates
Thank you.
References-
Barnes, Julian. The sense of an ending. Random House, 2012.
"Bridgewater Billionaire Ray Dalio: ‘I Have An Affinity For Mistakes’". Ft.Com, 2018, https://www.ft.com/content/0db7b7fa-f5fe-11e7-8715-e94187b3017e?fbclid=IwAR0De9rrBXWyJAJolFoPGj3osctOZQUotbpTGXx4wf8N8U1TFNaK7jrnzzQ. Accessed 6 Jan 2021.
Hawkings, J., and S. Blakeslee. "On Intelligence: How a New Understanding of the Brain will Lead to the Creation of Truly Intelligent Machines." An Owl Book, Henry Holt and Company, New York. 2004.
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