India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 mission aims to create an inclusive, top-notch educational system for skill development and life skills. With over 260 million students enrolled annually, India has more than 8.5 million primary and secondary instructors at 1.5 million schools. While these numbers paint an excellent picture, rigid curricula, traditional teaching pedagogy, and exam-based evaluation stand as challenges for the Indian educational system. This creates a huge disconnect between education and the requirements of the rapidly changing job market. With the advent of technology, scenarios have changed. We are shifting from standardized to an individualized method of learning with AI, which is making it applicable and efficient in the modern era.
Bridging Gaps for Inclusive Education
Technology has a significant impact on how we interact, learn, and develop. Digital learning platforms and e-courses have changed the way students perceive learning. These tools provide a range of courses, enabling individuals to have access to high-quality education. This is particularly advantageous for people living in underprivileged and rural areas with limited educational resources. With the rise of artificial intelligence, education has become increasingly individualized. While machine learning helps students identify knowledge gaps, chatbots and tutoring apps are assisting students in understanding difficult subjects. For instance, a student struggling in mathematics can receive instant and tailored solutions to their problems.
Technology has given rise to language apps and translation tools, allowing students to customize their learning based on their strengths and weaknesses. Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive experiences, making lengthy subjects like science or history more interesting. For instance, a school in Bangalore is utilizing VR techniques with Google Cardboard and Google’s Expeditions app to make lessons and classroom experience more exciting. Technology exceeds boundaries. Students from certain geographical regions can experience and learn about other cultures, promoting mutual understanding and global cooperation. However, there looms a question now. With technology replacing books with PDFs and e-books and pens with software tools, will it also replace the human aspect in teaching?
Empowering Educators: How Technology is Revolutionizing School Operations
According to a media report, empowering educators with technology has increased student academic skills by 11%, demonstrating that technology is merely a supplement to teachers. Although it can aid in the learning process, technology cannot take the place of a teacher. Computers are becoming more frequent in classrooms, and a variety of digital platforms and applications provide students a variety of learning experiences. However, we require teachers to bring the human element to teaching. Even in online courses, we need educators to present complex lessons into understandable portions through tutorials, videos, and sessions. Research has consistently demonstrated that educators have the power to effect change in ways that technology cannot. Good teachers support self-directed learning and independent thought. They can inspire people to create and accomplish goals and have a positive influence.
While technology does have a wide range of advantages, it has its drawbacks too; the lack of human touch being the primary one. Technology might aid in the learning process, but it cannot take the place of a teacher. An educator teaches students to ask questions, distinguish between different information sources, consider other points of view, understand the implications of a situation, be creative, and make thoughtful decisions. They encourage students to realize their potential while teaching them important life lessons and life skills.
Technology turns into an automatic tool and ceases to motivate and inspire students in the absence of a great teacher. In the end, the question is not whether technology will replace teachers, but rather how they might modify their teaching methods to use it.
Finding the Right Balance Between Teachers and Technology
According to recent research by the World Economic Forum, rather than being replaced by technology, teachers must continue to play a central role in education systems utilizing it. Great instructors cannot be replaced by technology, but when technology is used by great teachers, it may change the world. In addition to offering helpful technological tools, technology can be a fantastic addition to the current educational system, facilitating remote connections between students and instructors. We cannot function without technology, given the uncertainties of the international educational boundaries. Transferring knowledge is the core of education. When teachers and technology work together, that is how we create an inclusive, innovative, and inspiring environment for students.
The article has been written by Swoyan Satyendu, Co-founder, Newron
