The traditional classroom format of blackboard and notebook survived almost intact for centuries before the recent technological revolution that has increased the role of digital technology in the education sector. Technology has impact almost every aspect of classroom activity from assignments and testing to lecture delivery. There is no denying that it is almost impossible to imagine a classroom without digital technology in today’s world but it would be a huge mistake to assume that the role of technology will expand to such a great extent that it will replace teachers in the classroom. The role of technology will continue to expand but only to assist teachers in doing their jobs better rather than replacing them.
Those who argue technology will replace teachers in the classroom have inaccurate view of the role of technology in classrooms. Technology is not an end but a mean towards improving students’ overall learning experience. Technology is not only being employed in the educational sector but in almost every imaginable profit and non-profit sector in the economy. In fact, many for-profit corporations spend hundreds of millions of dollars on IT to improve their operating efficiency and, thus, profits. According to Gartner, total global IT spending may total a staggering $3.8 trillion in 2014 (Gartner). Investments in IT help leaders make better decisions and are not intended to replace them. In the same manner, technology in education is not meant to replace teachers eventually but merely to help them do their job better.
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"Technology Will Not Replace The Teacher In The Classroom".
Technology will also not replace teachers because technology needs teachers to be useful in the education sector. Implementing technology and ensuring they are effectively used are two separate things. Just as multi-million dollar investment in technology alone doesn’t guarantee success in the corporate sector, investments in classroom technology are just one part of the equation. It is then up to the teachers to determine how technology can be used to improve learning experience (Rotherham) and where it may not be needed. Similarly, students have different learning styles and good teachers possess the skill to determine how technology can be used to suit individual learning styles.
It is important to understand that teachers perform multiple roles in classroom and not just transmit knowledge to students. If teachers only role was to impart knowledge to students, then their probability of being completely replaced by technology would be almost certain. But teachers perform several roles in classrooms including motivating students, mentoring them, leading by example, and providing emotional support (Dunn and Dunn). These are the roles that technology is incapable of fulfilling. Similarly, teachers also facilitate activities that technology cannot do such as leading group discussions and solving individual problems of students. There is no doubt that technology has helped improve students’ learning experience but teachers perform such a wide range of roles that many of them are too complex given the state of technology. Thus, it is clear that teachers are not in danger of being completely replaced by technology.
We live in a world where technology is increasingly penetrating our personal and professional lives and our education system is no exception. Technology is helping teachers improve their instruction but it is a mistake to assume technology is capable of completely replacing teachers. Technology, in fact, needs teachers to be properly implemented and similarly, technology can only perform certain roles usually performed by teacher and not all of them. thus, technology role in classrooms will continue to expand but mainly in support capacity.
- Dunn, Jeff and Katie Dunn. Technology Will Not Replace Teachers. 19 October 2013. 21 June 2014 http://www.huffingtonpost.com
- Gartner. Gartner Worldwide IT Spending Forecast. Q1 2014. 21 June 2014 http://www.gartner.com/
- Rotherham, Andrew J. Can Computers Replace Teachers? 26 January 2012. 21 June 2014 http://ideas.time.com/
