Technology no substitute for teachers
SINCE March 2020, the education sector has seen dramatic changes, but teachers have remained steadfast in carrying out their duty via new practices.
This year’s Teachers Day theme is “GuruTunjangSekolahSEJAHTERA”. The “Sekolahku SEJAHTERA” concept upholds the commitment to produce a great young generation that can compete anywhere. This requires synergy at various levels and today’s education is an investment in future sustainability.
Our way of living and working has now changed. In the new social contract of future-proof education, as outlined in the Davos 2022 Agenda, the key elements are technology, interaction, personalisation and engagement.
Hence, is it true that with technology — artificial intelligence, virtual reality, data analytics, machine learning and the Internet of things — the role of teachers will erode?
Yes, technology needs to be used but the enormous role of teachers is not to be underestimated.
Teachers’ role goes beyond the passage of time, geographical boundaries, cultural diversity and even technological advancement.
Through strong leadership, teachers can empower students and plan a high-impact learning and teaching agenda to transform schools.
Teachers must be given as much space as possible, trust and empowerment for creativity and support in all aspects (physical, mental and logistics), as well as appreciated and recognised for their role.
Technology is a mechanism that has no soul; it only complements or accelerates performance.
The commitment and leadership come from the pure soul of a teacher who wants to see students succeed in leading the world.
Although technology allows learning to be conducted asynchronously, it cannot take over the role of teachers in scholarly discourse, personal discussions and gathering feedback.
If it is true that the cognitive and psychomotor aspects can be adapted to technology, to what extent are the affective elements to be attributed to technology?
Remember, a great teacher inspires. Happy Teachers Day!
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR AFANDI AHMAD
Visiting researcher for sabbatical programme sponsored by UTHM Aalborg-Unesco Centre for Problem Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability, Aalborg University, Denmark