Teachers or the Internet?
Over the past 50 years, teaching has changed drastically. From the scrawling and squeaking on blackboards to the futuristic technology of interactive whiteboards, teaching has come a long way. But will the internet soon take over from teachers?
In the University of Liverpool’s management school, classes are being taught using web forums. Students can interact with peers and instructors; they can be given reading and research tasks plus one to one access with tutors is available.
This also applies to Park High school, as we too have Fronter, which is a virtual learning environment, where students have forums and study resources. Students can use this to discuss issues with teachers and other members of the class. It is a very useful resource, as teachers can upload links and information, in order to help students complete home learning. Just by logging on, we can learn in a much more flexible and collaborative way.
So this brings us back to the question, is online learning taking over traditional methods of teaching? Teachers can give us the face to face discussion, which you cannot do with the computer. Also teachers can get to know you, therefore provide you with targeted help in your areas of weakness. Ironically, teachers can be more ‘interactive’ than just sitting in front of a screen and reading information when most of it won’t settle in your mind, as it is being read reluctantly. A computer can’t give praise, encouragement or a smile. Park High has a routine of E-Learning every other Tuesday morning; teachers set a task for students to complete for the following week. Some students do not do it as they know that there is no one there to encourage them to do so, and don’t bother.
However, some people may argue that online learning is more beneficial as in-depth knowledge is accessible from a wide range of sources. Working over the internet can be done in your own time and at your own pace. Moreover, some activities are more interactive than bookwork so several students would rather learn in this manner. In today’s Independent Niall Sclater, Open University’s director of learning innovation says “There are pros and cons of all technologies. To do away with traditional methods does not work- but you do have to use new techniques for what they are good for.”
“Maybe in the future, internet will take over teachers but for now, I do not think it is a good idea because teachers know student’s weaknesses and strengths and can target those areas personally, whereas the internet is not able to do that,” says Eman, in Year 9.
So is this what we really want? Unwillingly sitting in front of a computer screen alone all day? Even though most students say that they would rather not go to school, it is much better than being stuck in your bedroom! “Students would miss out on vital classroom interactions and their communication skills would suffer” says Miss Mitchell, an English teacher. So, be honest, if left on your own all day with no teacher, how many of you would actually spend the day studying? Or would you be interacting on Facebook all day?
By Veena 9DM and Jyoti 9DM