Can teachers be replaced by technology in the future?

Can teachers be replaced by technology in the future?

The role of education technology is improving and advancing continuously in our classrooms from projectors to smart boards and enabling better interaction in the classroom between teachers and children. With the progression of technology unfortunately results in some casualties. The primary casualty being the elimination of an obsolete job roles that have been taken over by a piece of technology.

But will this ever extend to teachers? It is important to understand that there is an art to imparting knowledge to children that current technology is nowhere near mastering. A teacher’s role is not merely to teach, but more importantly to provide an education. Educational technologies are currently helping teachers in their work and not completely taking over from them.

No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the fact is that it can never fill the role of a teacher. Technology are tools for education, and not replacements for our teachers.

If we look at a school management software, this is able to collect data on children’s learning trends, and makes the teaching experience more holistic and continual by using technology to facilitate engagement. These programs definitely enhance the teaching and learning experience, however, they are not comprehensive enough to completely take over the task. In their role, teachers do more than just instruct children. They can identify social issues that would be impossible for a machine to detect, especially non-verbal or invisible interactions, that affect the learning experience. They help identify hurdles for children that might be of a more personal or emotional nature, something a machine would not have the ability to pick up on or sense.

If we think back to our favourite teacher and ask ourselves the question “did you enjoy his/her teaching because of their extended library of knowledge or because of their devotion and how they made the subject they taught come alive and vibrant for you? For me I believe the human connection is necessary for something as important as the act of learning, as technology has the inability to interact with humans.

I do not believe that Educators need to worry about robots taking over the teaching of children anytime soon. While technology apps and programs can teach children skills or reinforce difficult concepts for struggling children, it can not replace the human teacher. Teachers will always be needed to manage the classroom environment and provide children with the encouragement they need. One of the largest part of education for children is teaching them social-emotional skills. While technology programs have been used successfully in the classroom to teach children how to read or to do mathematics, teaching social and emotional skills is far more complex. That process of learning requires the human touch that only teachers can provide. Teachers also inspire students to think for themselves and to innovate new solutions, something that technology cannot do.

As the age of Artificial Intelligence approaches us, the question on many lips is whether robots can replace teachers? Sir Anthony Seldon, vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham, predicts that robots will replace teachers by 2027, less than eight years away. I tend to agree with others in thinking that robots can never replace teachers because teachers inspire us and I do not believe that robots would have the same ability to do so. In another article, Sir Anthony Seldon, says “inspirational robots” are possible and can be adapted to each student’s individual learning style.

In my opinion, I believe that robots may one day be able to play a role as aides in the classroom in the future of education, but will never replace the existence of teachers. They may be used as a help with some of the more mundane tasks of monitoring progress or questioning children on facts. Teachers may need to adapt to dealing with artificial intelligence in the future, but they will likely never be replaced by them. Technology must be built to help teachers, not replace them.  Let’s face it, good teachers will never become extinct. We are inspired to do our best by the best teachers who care about our education and welfare, and that will never go out of fashion.

Reference list

Fedena Blog. (2019). Teachers vs Technology: Can Technology Replace Teachers? - Fedena Blog. [online] Available at: https://fedena.com/blog/2018/05/teachers-vs-technology-can-technology-replace-teachers.html [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].

Best Schools in Greater Noida | Top Schools in Noida - JP International. (2019). Can Technology Replace Teachers? - JP International School. [online] Available at: http://www.jpinternational.co.in/can-technology-replace-teachers/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].

Computing, T. (2019). Why Artificial Intelligence Will Never Replace Teachers - The Tech Edvocate. [online] The Tech Edvocate. Available at: https://www.thetechedvocate.org/artificial-intelligence-will-never-replace-teachers/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].

Education Dive. (2019). Will robots replace teachers in the future?. [online] Available at: https://www.educationdive.com/news/will-robots-replace-teachers-in-the-future/542239/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].

Bodkin, H. (2019). 'Inspirational' robots to begin replacing teachers within 10 years. [online] The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/09/11/inspirational-robots-begin-replacing-teachers-within-10-years/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].