Sunday, May 5, 2019

‘Can teachers be replaced by technology in the future?’

Areas of Learning and Experience Blog - Digital Competency



Technology has had immense impact on how the education system has evolved, especially in the UK. It has given education endless opportunities and widened the teaching scope massively for teachers. There has been speculation that one day teachers will ultimately be replaced by technology, although there is no definite answer or certain yes or no to if technology will be replacing teachers in the foreseeable future is something that’s worth the discussion.

It’s hard to imagine a classroom without teachers as in England alone a there were 498,100 teachers in state funded schools in 2015  according to The Department of Education (2015). Furthermore, there are many reasons both for and against will technology replace teachers in the future and the aim of this blog post is to cover as many influential arguments as possible.
Although artificial intelligence has had a large impact on education in recent years and will continue to do so as it develops further, Lynch M (2018) argues that technology will never overtake teachers as ‘Human teachers will always be needed to manage the classroom environment and to give students the encouragement they need.’ stating how children rely on social and emotional bonds with teachers and the support is indefinitely required, stating how children wouldn't be able to receive emotional support and encouragement from artificial intelligence. Bowlby, J (1958) also expands on the attachment linked to a child and their caregiver he states how children form attachments which will indefinitely affect all ‘future social relationships so disrupting this can have severe consequence. Of course the biggest hit that would come from technology replacing teachers would be the ‘primarily be the elimination of an obsolete job roles that have been taken over by a piece of technology.’ Fedena (2018) following on from this Fedena also go on the say the purpose of a teacher ‘is not merely to teach, but to provide an education. There is an art to imparting knowledge to students that current technology is nowhere close to mastering. Educational technologies are currently aiding teachers in their work, not completely taking over them. They are tools, not replacements.’ this establishes that teachers are infact they are the sole provider of education to young people and technology is merely just a resource which enhances this skill, as being able to educate someone is a skill.
‘Robots won’t replace teachers because they can’t inspire us.’ Smerling, N (2017) again supporting the idea that technology is merely just a tool and it cannot have any real emotional attachment, the purpose of having some form of attachment to a teacher is simply to be inspired and motivated.

Bryant, A (2016) said that ‘Technology doesn’t discriminate based on a student’s ability or skill, but instead provides an opportunity to engage students using a medium that they recognise. Lest we forget, technology is growing not just within our classrooms but also in our everyday lives, so it is therefore natural that we should increasingly incorporate it into classrooms.’ education is something that has existed a long time before technology and will probably outlive it. There were times when education was basic without the use of technology and still to this day there are still third world countries without access to clean running water never mind technology.  ‘Technology has, no doubts, brought a lot of relief for the human kind, but that doesn’t mean it can overpower or substitute humans. And, the major cause for this is its inability to interact with humans.’ JP International (2018). Meanwhile technology is something that has massively assisted the education system it is physically impossible for technology to represent a teacher. Although technology has provided us with immense resources it'll never be able to take away a child bond with their favourite teacher, or someone for students to emotionally turn to, it'll never be able to communicate with us on an emotional platform.
Personally, I believe that technology is simply just a resource, agreeing with Bryant, A (2016) that there were simpler times before technology and there are less fortunate countries in the world have no access to this media. Although technology has done immense things for education and has assisted it in many ways there is lack of evidence to support that one day it will over rule teachers. If technology does somehow manage to out run technology then based on the Bowlby (1958) attachment theory then children will lack emotional support and empowerment which is needed for their general development.  
Overall, from the research provided the evidence shows that majority of people and practitioners believe that technology will not overpower teachers due to reasons such as; lack of humane bond, it's just a media, just a resource, it hasn't existed forever where as education has and not everyone has access to it yet are still educated. There are many reasons against technology taking over the education system although we must acknowledge the great things and access that the technology has provided the education system, its provided teachers and pupils with international access, data storage, records, internet etc technology has given the education system a lot, but it'll never be able to give children emotional support, humane contact and bonds and many other things. From the reasons presented it is hard to support the idea that technology could replace teachers, one day it might or it'll just continue to be a resource for teachers.





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