Why computer is based learning feared by teachers? Well it
is simple, it revolutionizes teaching so much that it may make a lot of
teachers lose their jobs.
Why it's feared: Computer based education does not
require numerous teachers to be trained and employed. In fact, the
smallest number of teachers needed is one. That is right, one teacher who
is really good at presenting information can teach the entire country via
computer. While realities of competition will mean there will be more
than one and that children may learn better with one teacher based on teaching
method than another, there will be much less need for teachers to even exist.
You see, that same teacher who is teaching a video can end up teaching
for 100 years or more without the need to be replaced even after they die.
Let's face it, if a teacher is that good at teaching via computer, then
why hire someone else to take their place. So what happens to all those
other teacher's?
The other teachers may never see a
classroom. Reason being is that there will be no need. While the teacher
teaching via the computer can sit back after doing one single lecture which
will be viewed by millions while they reap the copyright benefits, the other
teachers will be relegated to a support role. They will have two key
roles, grading essays and providing one on one sessions for those who have
questions on the material. A teacher will never have to grade a multiple
choice test ever again as that can all be done via computer. They will
never have to issue report cards and progress reports, or tell where the
student is having trouble as the computer is easily able to pinpoint that.
So when it comes to something a computer cannot do, it means these
supporting teachers will be grading essays and other documents written by
students. The other job they will do is be there like a tech support
person to answer questions and troubleshoot where a student gets stuck on a
part of the material they are studying. So these one on one trouble
shooting sessions will be these teachers niche roll, possibly with a rating
system so that even these individuals can be in demand and receive special
privileges like their video teacher counterparts.
Unions: In this future where students learn at their own
pace, unions will lose lots of money as there will be very little teachers left
to represent, and even then, the teachers they do represent may not need them
as they will be contracting directly with parents and students rather than
government bodies or private institutions. Basically, you will have
private tutor capable of teaching a million kids at once and be paid for it.
So why would a teacher subject themselves to union dues and rules?
The fact is that they will not. And as such, the teachers unions
and its supporting bodies will cease to exist as we know them.
Conclusion: The future of education is looking
bright for our children and our wallets, but is dismal for the profession of
teaching. This is not a bad thing though as those horrible teachers that
give other teachers a bad name will be completely pushed out, and the teachers
who are better at grading (being tough on students written work) will be able
to focus on that to insure students become better at reading and writing in
general through tests. Also, who knows how much education will evolve in
the future once teaching becomes almost exclusive to computer based learning.
The sky is the limit and we may even see a resurgence of a new form of
teacher instead of the near extinction of the ones we have now.
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