Shinjo
1
Technology/Science
pub name: can computers take the place of teachers?
Writer: Sugata Mitra
September 26 2010 11:48 am EDT
length:707 words
After reading the article about education I think I can see the next big change in the educational system. The article talks about how computers teach children in rural countries and how this information has been used to create programs in the USA to better the teachers ability to educate children. They found that a computer could actually replace a teacher and all that would be required would be a mediator to help clarify this mediator doesn't need to be intelligent but just needs to be present. Knowing this TED a non profit organisation has set up "eMediators" this program has had good results with the schools that participate with TED. It works over Skype the students using the program to video chat with retired teachers to receive help. The results were better performance out of the children they found that this program would more then likely be effective universally. They feel that with these procedures it is now possible to formulate a whole new way of educating children across the world.
My conclusion is that this is the future of education I believe that as the world moves into the computer age so will every thing else which includes education. One more reason is that its much more convenient and following a trend I think that this is one of the things that will come with the times.
I believe that this is the future, but I doubt the adventage of this plan. I see the point that the government can save money which can be invested in other project in society. A problem which might be caused could be the joblessness of all teachers and I think that teacher and classroom school is not just for learning stuff but learning how to live with other people.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think computers can take the place of teachers because they are only a tool, a computer will never have the same approach as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI think that attempting to replace teachers with computers would prove to be very unsucessful. Yes, they may work in rural countries where kids recieve no education at all. And yes, they work in modern schools by giving the teachers another way to inform or reenforce information to the students. However, once you begin teacher through boxed in methods like a computer, you start to create students that have boxed in thoughts. I think that there will be no replacement for a real teacher, even a computer.
ReplyDeleteI think that computers will definitely have a bigger role in education. They make it quick and easy to share information, plus they save a lot of paper. But when it comes to the actual teaching part, I doubt that they will replace real teachers. Even with really advanced programs, I just don't see it. Let's say you were having trouble in school. A computer can be programed to sense that and give you makeup tests or alternative assignments, but only human being can sit down with you and work out a personal issue.
ReplyDeleteI think that computers would be a good solution to helping children in rural areas who don't have access to a good education, but in areas where kids already have good teachers there's no reason to replace them if they do a good job. What would all the great teachers do if they were replaced by computers?
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea for people who don't have a school in there area and can't go to school because of disabilities of because of where they live. This is also a bad thing for teachers because many of them would lose there jobs to computers. The only reason people in areas with good education would switch is because the state wold close schools and open online public schools which would be a lot cheaper for the state.
ReplyDeleteThere is already a similar curriculum started teacher lecturing in front of a camera to make a video clip using Youtube web streaming tech. It could be a good start to set the education level up to certain level, but problem still remain in terms of students asking the questions: everyone would could be passive and just take no notice of computer since it would likely to accept no question because they can't answer by computer itself. This really promotes the children to be the products of educational factories... using computer lecturing for educational purpose should therefore be discouraged.
ReplyDeleteI believe that computers will not be able to replace the teachers, and also it should not replace it. I think that the whole point of having a teacher is not only to learn the subject however to learn the life experiences from the teacher as well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough technology is increasingly taking over more parts of life, I think education and school is one place it cannot be fully replaced. A computer would not be able to explain things and talk things over with one, as a teacher would and give the same help. This would also not allow children to be taught social and life long lessons that they do in school. I also agree that although it could help certain people in different areas or ways of life, but it is not something that could become dependable and the normal way of education, this would be too hard of a transfer and I believe many would disapprove and not want this. It would cause one to only learn facts and not practice them as much, I believe it would be a very difficult way of learning for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI believe that computers will play a much larger role in education than it already does in the near future. Although I don't think teachers will be able to be replaced, because with teachers it is not only information that you learn but also life lessons and experiences that can only be taught from one on one interactions.
ReplyDeleteWhile this seems to work, I'm unconvinced that once they actually apply it to other areas of the US that it will work. Computers are always malfunctioning and anyone can mess with the system in order to screw the class up. Plus, face to face interactions can not be replaced by computer screens. It will decrease our ability to communicate in person to others. Texting has already take control, and many no longer call. If there was no teacher we would never get to interact with anyone. I think it would make learning much more difficult and in the end be a waste of the state's money.
ReplyDeleteAlthough replacing a teacher with a computer seems promising, I do not think that students can learn as much from an apparatus. Children gain learning experience from contact with an adult who can give them hands-on instructions. Also, there are many different learning styles such as kinistetic, visual, auditory, intrapersonal, and other types that vary between students. The replacement of a teacher with a computer will not work well for all students.
ReplyDeleteAnd even though a troubled student can Skype a retired teacher for help, this may not be available in the future if education systems are seriously considering the replacement of teachers. Eventually the computers would decrease the employment of teachers, so there would not be any to clarify any students who want to contact a retiree via Skype.
I believe there is no way that teaching through computers can work. Without having a teacher with you, you lose the personal connection that you would in a school. Plus students would lose the social benefits of going to a school and spending time with others their age.
ReplyDelete