There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not yet become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my opinion what can be expected is a change of the teachers’ role, but not their disappearance from the classroom.
Nobody can argue with the fact that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a child. This, accompanied by the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually contributes to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level the availability of digital books, simulators and other academic materials provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that otherwise would not be at hand.
But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is usually embedded in the academic digital material, the need for human interaction in the learning process will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a human being to be able to determine what the specifics needs of each individual are. The expertise of a teacher in how to explain and adapt complex concepts to different individuals can hardly be mimicked by a computer, no matter how sophisticated its software is.
As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware of their role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts. They have to be open minded to the changes that are taking places, keep updated and serve as problem solvers in the learning process, thus allowing students to discover the fact for themselves.
To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will continue to play an important role in the classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will be no replacement for the human interaction, but in the way haw this interaction takes place.
There is no doubt that education and the
learning
process
has
changed
since the introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not
yet
become a substitute of the
human
interaction
in the
learning
process
. In my opinion what can be
expected
is a
change
of the
teachers’
role,
but
not their disappearance from the classroom.
Nobody can argue with the fact that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a child. This, accompanied by the relaxing attitude and software interactivity,
usually
contributes to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level the availability of digital books, simulators and other academic materials provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that
otherwise
would not be at hand.
But
,
besides
the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is
usually
embedded in the academic digital material, the need for
human
interaction
in the
learning
process
will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a
human
being to be able to determine what the specifics
needs
of each individual are. The expertise of a
teacher
in how to
explain
and adapt complex concepts to
different
individuals can hardly
be mimicked
by a computer, no matter how sophisticated its software is.
As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching,
teachers
should be more aware of their role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge
rather
than transmitters of facts. They
have to
be
open minded
to the
changes
that are taking places,
keep
updated and serve as problem solvers in the
learning
process
,
thus
allowing students to discover the fact for themselves.
To summarize
, in my personal view,
teachers
play and will continue to play an
important
role in the classroom,
especially
at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will be no replacement for the
human
interaction
,
but
in the way haw this
interaction
takes place.