Can Technology Replace Teachers?

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With the fast pace development of technology, reaching the modern classrooms isn’t something one could not imagine about. Technology has become an integral part of today’s world. Teachers and schools are facing immense pressure to bring technology in the day-to-day education system. But the real question remains: can technology really replace teachers? Read further to find out.

No matter how advanced the computer devices and systems are today, they cannot bring to the class the vast amount of knowledge and life experience a teacher does. Whereas a computer will provide all the facts and figures needed, it won’t be able to provide the guidance, leadership qualities and facilitate the students in a way a teacher will. Teachers are the ones who students can look up to as role models, but not Google (even though it would still remain the web god). A strong bond between the student and the teacher provides a positive approach towards learning and creates a healthy learning environment. Such an environment can never be achieved through virtual learning. So to say that technology can replace teachers in the near future is not true. Well, it’s not even close enough!

Here are a few points that explain how technology cannot replace teachers:

• Technology cannot make a student socially interactive
• Technology won’t be able to gauge every student’s capabilities
• Technology can become the focal point instead of a mediator
• Technology won’t be an inspiration to the students
• Technology is not available to all

But there’s more to it. Though teachers cannot be replaced by technology, it does play an important role. The old school way of textbooks and notebooks is fast vanishing from the modern day schools. The current generation of students, with access to a wide variety of computer devices around them, don’t want to go through those fat books anymore. This makes the job tougher for the teachers. They not only have to keep pace with the technology but also keep themselves updated with today’s trends and plan their classroom strategies accordingly. Teachers have to move out of their comfort zones and exploit new ways to engage the students. And technology is a big helping hand in terms of that. With more and more educational software and apps being developed, it has become easier for teachers to inculcate quick and interactive learning among the students.

The internet is the sole access to almost anything a student wants to know. Teachers play an integral role in channelizing the genuine, trustworthy information to the students, create a highly energised and positive culture in the classrooms to help each student fight their struggles and stand in the highly competitive world outside. Technology can show a player what mistakes he/she is making in a playing field, but the experience and knowledge of a coach will help him/her improve upon those mistakes. A new computer system installed in a school can only be operated once a teacher teaches you how to operate it. 

The Teacher vs. Technology is a never ending battle. But technology will never really take over the teachers in the real world. Both have their independent impacts on education and combining both of them as well as maintaining a healthy balance between the two can work wonders for the educational system. Technology is certainly changing the face of education today, but this cannot be considered as a permanent replacement for teachers. Technology can play the supporting role, but the teacher would still play the lead role.

click4college wishes all the teachers a very Happy Teacher's Day!