Aug 01, 2023
by Humera
Teachers are motivational figures who inspire their students to improve themselves. A competent educator appreciates independent thought and study. In your pursuit of excellence, he or she may serve as a driving force. In a virtual classroom, it is impossible to replicate the trust and bond that develop between an instructor and student. Multiple studies have demonstrated that teachers are the primary force behind long-lasting change, surpassing even the most advanced technologies. A teacher's role is to direct, guide, assist, and mentor their students.
 

Technology is now a necessity in today's classrooms

The Corona virus outbreak has heightened the importance of technology in the classroom. There is constant pressure on educators and school administrators to integrate technological tools into the classroom. While there are many advantages to incorporating technology into the classroom, some are concerned that it will one day replace teachers. Generally, it is believed that no matter how advanced technology becomes, it will never supplant a qualified educator.
 
As a result of globalization, liberalization, and privatization, the educational landscape has grown. To maintain and enhance the standard of teaching, we need to make use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). The advent of ICT has provided us with countless opportunities. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are the only means by which we can reach our destination in today's interconnected world. Thus, with the aid of ICT, a teacher can provide an exceptional education to his students. Teachers and students could find it challenging to adjust to the recent trends in education. However, information and communication technologies have revealed the significance of educators on a global scale. 
 
The duties of a teacher extend beyond imparting information. Furthermore, the use of technology in the classroom is on the rise. Students are using a variety of study tools, and instructors are integrating social media into their lessons. Teachers can use a variety of programs to meet the individual needs and preferences of their students in terms of how they learn best. The fact that today's students have vastly different educational needs cannot be ignored. We should provide children with experiential learning opportunities.
 

Advances in tools require skilled teachers

Most importantly, when using technology in the classroom, effective teachers are still required. Excellent educators are accountable for elevating technology's function in the classroom. Despite its versatility, technology has a number of limitations, the most apparent of which is its inability to communicate with humans. A teacher is more than someone who assists pupils in learning; they also serve as a mentor and an advisor. Technology ceases to be a creative and motivating force in the classroom in the absence of an outstanding educator. We're not just in this to provide time and location flexibility for students or to reduce costs for providers. Instead, we desire to improve educational opportunities. A teacher's role is to direct, guide, assist, and mentor their students. Teachers are motivational figures who inspire their students to improve themselves.
 

Not all classroom activities can be supplanted with technology

If technology were better planned, managed, and organized, it could be utilized to reimagine the very nature of education, as opposed to simply digitizing old textbooks and lecture notes. While there are numerous ways in which technology can "improve" the "quality" of student thought (online journals, expert collaboration, peer podcasting, online courses, etc.), the long-term success of these efforts to strengthen students' critical thinking and ability to apply what they learn largely depends on the students and their habits (with and without technology) outside the classroom.
 
Despite the fact that technology can perform many of the tasks for which teachers are not responsible and make teaching more sustainable for those teachers, it cannot replace compassion, affection, and a personal understanding of a student's history in a place and its history.
 

How technical tools assist both the teaching and learning aspects

  • Apps such as Kindle and iBooks, or even distributing PDFs of assigned readings, permit students to read books on their own time.
  • Apps like ClassDojo and Plickers can help teachers provide a secure and structured environment in which children can study, despite the fact that effective classroom management is largely dependent on teachers' relationships with students and the school's physical environment.
  • Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can be used to construct virtual field trips to locations students otherwise would not be able to visit, as well as to give students safe and immersive training experiences in professions like medicine and engineering.
  • Practicing math problems on Khan Academy or completing writing assignments on BoomWriter with other students are excellent methods to hone skills and boost self-assurance.
  • In contrast to conventional teaching methods, a learning platform such as IXL enables instructors to provide immediate feedback to students on their answers.
  • Video chronicles maintained by students on their personal YouTube channels document student reflections on their educational experiences.
  • The quantity and caliber of online courses and conferences geared toward the professional development of instructors are increasing.
  • Within and between schools and districts, technology can facilitate data sharing, revision, resource incorporation, etc.
  • Technological advancements enable the rapid and effortless collection and visualization of data. The evaluation method determines the data's quality.
  • Using Microsoft Onenote, you can link your sketchnotes to external information, such as images, audio, and video.
  • At the core of project-based learning is connecting students with local experts to address real-world problems.
  • Reading proficiency evaluation using a reading-specific or adaptive learning platform, such as IXL.
  • To engage in authentic inquiry without requiring the teacher to curate and distribute all learning materials, students must be able to independently explore information through investigation while avoiding the difficulties associated with doing so. Dozens of additional factors determine whether this leads to learning.
  • Theoretically, students' curiosity could be stimulated by connecting them to more sources of learning content and more opportunities for collaboration.
  • Who views, uses, and has access to student portfolios; how 'elegantly' produced and 'formatted' portfolios are.
  • Students can more readily acquire prior work in order to refine or expand upon it.
  • The accessibility of reading materials, films, debates, and other forms of "content" via personal computers and mobile devices.
  • Facilitating diverse educational models propelled by students, such as the "flipped classroom," "second screen learning," "self-directed learning," "self-organized learning environments," etc.
  • Instead of a letter grade intended to indicate a level of performance and comprehension, learning badges expose the subtleties of learning as a process.
 

Can Artificial Intelligence replace teachers? 

By 2023, the global market for artificial intelligence (AI) in classrooms could reach $3.69 billion. The majority of experts concur that teachers play a crucial role in the classroom, but they also anticipate significant shifts in their duties and educational best practices. Education and training institutions across the globe can benefit from the use of artificial intelligence because it can automate mundane tasks, provide valuable feedback on students' performance, and improve the overall quality of the educational experience. The sooner educators become acclimated to working with AI and intelligent robots, the better, as AI is transforming classrooms and becoming an essential teacher's aid.
 
There is no reason for educators to be concerned that AI will eliminate their jobs. Educators can gain a great deal from artificial intelligence, but computers cannot yet replace human instructors. Our educational system requires the human element, which only qualified teachers can provide and which machines cannot replicate. Artificial intelligence is unable to motivate students to learn, practice, and develop at this time. The most effective teacher can jumpstart their students' learning and maintain their engagement throughout the year by employing a variety of tried-and-true motivational techniques.
 
Teachers and other educational professionals do not need to be afraid of artificial intelligence; rather, they should view it as a fantastic tool for providing better, more individualized learning experiences and alleviating their enormous administrative burden. There is no substitute for face-to-face instruction, as the COVID epidemic has shown. The interaction between instructors and students is difficult to automate and is best conducted in person, presenting a challenge for artificial intelligence.
 

Potential Applications of AI in the Educational Sector

  • When instructors are responsible for 30 or more students in a single classroom, artificial intelligence (AI) will enable a significantly greater level of differentiation in education than is currently possible. Multiple companies invest in research and development for intelligent instruction design and digital platforms to satisfy the individualized needs of kindergarten through college students.
  • With the assistance of AI tools, global classrooms can be accessible to students of all backgrounds and abilities, including those who speak a foreign language, have vision or hearing impairments, or need to use materials at their own pace.
  • Accepting routine tasks that require structure and repetition, such as grading, thanks to advancements in natural language processing. AI tools will be able to read free-form text responses (such as those found in brief answer questions or longer essays).
  • They can observe progress in the classroom. Teachers can generate personalized student profiles using machine learning techniques that can be used to track development and identify areas for improvement.

Teachers need to be ready to get benefits

The availability of numerous school applications and intelligent apps for preschoolers, for instance, facilitates the entire educational process. Evidently, individualized instruction made possible by technological advancements will be the future of education. Even as technology plays an increasingly essential supporting role in the classroom, the teacher remains central. While technological advances are altering the educational landscape, they are in no way a substitute for certified teachers. Exemplary teachers cultivate a classroom environment that inspires and guides their students to realize their maximum potential.
 
The youth of today are avid admirers of electronic devices. In order to connect with students and enhance their understanding, a teacher must step outside of their comfort zone and attempt new things. The current educational system could benefit significantly from technological advancements. Teachers can enhance their lessons and provide more engaging activities for their students by utilizing one of the numerous student apps or smart apps designed for infants. Not only will students benefit from the implementation of new technologies in the classroom, but so will teachers. This suggests that the teacher will continue to play a crucial role even in a classroom with technological enhancements.
 

Conclusion

Learning with technology is similar to having an additional instructor on site. While technology can be a helpful educational tool, it will never be able to replace a qualified teacher. Online courses still require instructors, even if they only appear in the form of videos, tutorials, or Skype conversations. Teachers are still required because children must be taught how to use computers because technology cannot teach them essential skills such as decision-making and time management. 
 
Teachers serve as role models and motivators for their students. A machine cannot replicate a teacher's knowledge and experience; technology can only serve as a supplement. As long as equilibrium is maintained, we can anticipate an educational system that not only promotes education but also offers new opportunities for individual expression and innovation.