Can Tech & Teachers Coexist?
Technology is changing how young students learn. The role of the teacher is more important than ever.
By Xische Editorial, September 11, 2019
Source: Anita Ponne/Shutterstock
Fall is upon us and that means the kids are going back to school. When many of us think back to those crisp autumn days and summer’s fleeting embrace, fresh school supplies come to mind. Backpacks full of empty notebooks and sharpened pencils jostle on our backs as a new educational year begins. The situation is a bit different today as backpacks are packed with fully charged iPads and smartphones.
The classroom of today is a connected and dynamic laboratory designed to shape young minds into tomorrow’s next innovator. The role of maths and the sciences are heavily weighted as data-driven learning helps educators provide the best quality education for future industries. The shift away from traditional skills is critical as cities and countries pivot their economic structure to knowledge-based industries. Without strong maths and science education, the knowledge economy of the future won’t get off the ground.
The UAE has fully embraced the knowledge model of the future by preparing the next generation for future industries. A major part of this plan includes innovative science and technology programmes and ample funding for education at all levels. The country’s leaders understand full well that the classroom is the best place to invest in the economy of the future. What’s more is that the leadership understands the need for balance between traditional skills and future technologies in the classroom.
Yet, traditional skills such as handwriting remain critical in the classroom. While we embrace technology, we can’t forget the importance of these skills in developing well-rounded children. Many adults take skills such as handwriting for granted. We were fortunate to grow up at a time when paper books and handwriting were the norm in the classroom. Other than television cartoons, we didn’t grow up in front of screens and smartphones. That gave us the ability to embrace boredom (yes, boredom. It’s a good thing every once in a while) and allow our minds to be carried away. Not only is this necessary for brain development but also for moral education. Our ability to have empathy and other traits stems partly from our earliest childhood experiences. Just because most of us are now addicted to those platforms doesn’t mean that we don’t have the cognitive skills that come with educational technology that doesn’t require batteries to operate.
Younger generations are facing a radically different learning environment. From birth, children are surrounded by screens. These digital natives will create the applications and platforms of the future but we don’t fully understand how their attention spans will develop. Constant screen time makes concentration incredibly difficult. This is where strong role models come into the equation and who can think of a stronger role model than a great teacher.
The role of technology hasn’t overshadowed the role of teachers in the classroom. Yes, screens have a much more prominent place in classrooms but an iPad is never going to replace the care and attention of a human teacher. That’s one reason why Abu Dhabi just inducted thousands of new teachers. We are educating our students to be the guardians and innovators of the future. As we do so, we can’t lose sight of the critical role that teachers play in the development of our youth.
Teachers are excellent conduits for humanities education, which we have argued is part of a well-rounded curriculum. While extensive maths and science programmes are required to create a generation of skilled research in the field of AI, Blockchain, and other data-heavy fields, a solid foundation in humanities will ensure a balanced education that includes skills like empathy.
If we can strike a balance between using technology to enhance education and ensuring that children still practice traditional skills with little more than a pen and a piece of paper, we will be on the way to building a knowledge-based economy. The sustainable knowledge-based economy of the future will strike a perfect pitch between technology innovation and good old fashioned understanding.
