ICT i education and teachers role

ICT in education and a role of a teacher

The introduction into an education, the number of modern technologies, make role of teacher less and less important. Of course, in my opinion, it is crucial for ICT to be present in modern education, because it is suitable for youth and children, and helps to develop positive qualities. However, I strongly disagree with a position where modern technologies dominate in the whole education, because a result of such an action will be removal of the teacher from a process of  education.

   

Why have I mentioned this matter in my blog? So, recently, I have found an article concerning Japan, more precisely Japanese school. In this school, children are taught by machines, instead of teachers. That’s why the revolution takes place. On the beginning there are only few machines in few classrooms, but everything points in the direction, where real teachers will be wholly replaced by robots. After I have read this article second time, I have started to wonder, where is the point and what will happen? Is that really what we want? Does the education could be even possible without a real teacher?

I assume, that example of Japanese school is a proof, that everything goes into one direction : Dehumanization of educational process. What clearly means that teacher will be fully replaced, it is obvious that such an action will be not good. Today’s young people and children cannot imagine their lives without computers, mobiles, internet and rest of newest technologies. Thus, the education has very important goal, live up to their needs and make learning easier and pleasant for them. It is one crucial question to be asked : If education without real teacher is a proper direction? Where is the sense of it?

We can notice changes of teacher’s role and a didactic process – from Herbert’s pedagogy through constructivism to connectivism. These changes clearly illustrate, how teacher’s role starts to be more limited. Nevertheless, is that our true concern? Education is a process, which is devoted to gaining wisdom and experience, however we cannot forget about shaping one’s personality. To show to pupil : “how to live?”. What could be the fundament of this part of education?

Do we really want for our children to seek this wisdom among the machines, instead of using experience that human kind has been gaining for all these years?

Modern education is going to exterminate a real teacher, who will not be needed as a tutor, an observer or a source of knowledge. Because machines and robots will replace human educators…   .

With every positive aspect in favor of a modern media, we still just cannot compare it to the role of a true teacher. So, to say the truth, everything is up to materialistic matters, thus, education will be much cheaper without teachers. Computers, robots and machines would be not so expensive as teachers, who must get proper salary for their job. Despite everything, cheaper doesn’t mean better.

Nevertheless, it is not hard to notice that teacher is not only and the best source of knowledge, but machine never will be able to motivate, and inspire human being to learning, as teacher with calling.

We do not aspire to the situation where education with a teacher, would be a expensive privilege, not for everyone to afford. It’s quite just the opposite, we equip educators with high competence, authority and motivation. Moreover, we can even replace chalk and board with modern technologies, but we never expel the teacher from the school. 

  

And how about You? In what way are You imagining education without teacher? Would the machines be better than people, or not?


http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-03-11/news/17918779_1_human-robot-saya-teacher