Take any area of your life, and you will see the influence of technology. It is ingrained in our society in a way that living a life without it has become unthinkable. The same is in the education sector, where the pandemic has accelerated the usage of technology. This has led to an increasing concern among parents, worrying that the devices will do their children more harm. That’s not totally true, but some instances can convince you otherwise. On one hand, we have skeptics with their never-ending doubts, while on the other end, we have EdTech enthusiasts, optimistic about the role of technology in transforming the education sector. What is your take on this?
Having covered the brief overview of the discussion, it’s time we look at the comparison between technology and teachers thoroughly.
Importance of technology in education
From a chalk and board system to Virtual Reality (VR) in education, we have come a long way. There is no doubt that technology is the future. Firstly, it has given access to educational opportunities. Compare this with medieval times, where education was limited to specific people. Even then, people had to move to places to complete their education. In modern times, things have turned upside down in a good way.
Now you don’t have to leave your house in search of education. Technology has brought the same knowledge to your fingertips. In fact, you could find more than just online programs providing education. You can discover educational podcasts that allow you to learn while you commute. That way, technology has not only increased educational opportunities but also opened a door for unlimited knowledge.
Value of teachers for education
It is human nature to long for interaction. That’s where teachers play an important role in education. Not every time the student can understand the concept that technology presents. Sometimes, they need the assistance of educators to give them perspective and help them to understand. Apart from this, think about it from your personal experience. How often did you find a role model in your educator? Most of you might have at some point. Teachers are students’ role models with whom they can connect. Also, the influence that technology can have on students can be manipulated, but with teachers, parents can rest assured knowing their kids are in the right hands.
Pitting technology vs teachers
To understand the role of technology and teachers in education, let us consider some factors to analyze further.
Inspiration of students
You might have come across study materials that inspire you to learn more about various topics. That’s exactly what teaching technology focuses on. Technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) makes learning more interactive. It engages students through full immersion and boosts their collaboration capabilities. Virtual Reality presents interactive content that allows the students to explore places without leaving their desks. Usually, VR content can be experienced via VR headsets, or it can be projected on the wall of the classrooms. The obvious advantage is that in less time you get to explore more places. Other than this, it is a cost-effective method of learning.
Having resources doesn’t guarantee the students know how to use them in their favor. Surely, there can be manuals guiding them, but educators can inspire students in a way technology cannot, at least not yet. Teachers bring life experiences and the way they approach the topics and discussion can make a real difference in student’s life. It has the potential to influence their life and career decisions for good. Students are inspired to reach their potential with the type of clarity teachers can bring into their lives.
Guiding students in their education
Technology provides personalized learning and guidance to students. This gives them control over their way of learning and makes necessary provides resources easily available. In fact, technology can accommodate different learning styles including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. For visual learners, technology can be used to create presentations and video lessons to help them understand the concept better. The video conferencing technology helps the students with auditory learning styles learn the topic through listening and speaking. Whereas for kinesthetic learners, technology provides a hands-on experience to learn better.
What you have read now might seem too good. But when it comes to teachers, the distinguishing factor is their experience. They bring their life experience into the learning process. That way, they guide the students in developing skills that will help them to build their future. Along with this, they help them to get confidence that builds their self-esteem. Having support from teachers is encouraging for the students.
Student engagement
Technology has brought educational software, gamification, and learning videos to increase the students’ engagement. The educational software gives access to the students round the clock. It saves a lot of their time and is also quite cost-effective. The gamification in learning makes the content appealing to the students. Not only that, it makes the learning more informative alongside its high degree of interactivity. Learning videos in education enhance students’ experience and increase their motivation.
Teachers try their best to make the classrooms welcoming for the students. Every student is different and has a way of interacting with the environment. Therefore, it becomes important to understand each of them and help them to engage more with study materials and their peers. Teachers are good at it and know how to resolve potential conflicts in the process of engagement and collaboration.
Wrapping up the teachers vs technology debate
Now that we have done an in-depth examination, what are your thoughts on technology versus (vs) teachers? Were you able to pick a side? If you didn’t, we don’t blame you. Technology will grow exponentially in various sectors, including education. The demand for educators won’t nosedive. Instead, the interest for teachers who will be well-versed with technology will skyrocket in the coming time. Technology and teachers will work together to impart knowledge to students. That way, it will not only improve their quality of life but also the environment they interact with.