{"id":16885,"date":"2021-03-02T07:26:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T12:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.elearninginside.com\/?p=16885"},"modified":"2021-03-08T10:53:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T15:53:28","slug":"edtech-and-the-two-paths-forward-for-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.elearninginside.com\/edtech-and-the-two-paths-forward-for-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"EdTech and the Two Paths Forward for Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the teacher shortage has been growing increasingly dire in recent years<\/a>, we\u2019ve seen the pandemic drive the crisis to new extremes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s bad: The Economic Policy Institute reports<\/a> that as of September, public K-12 education employment was down by more than half a million jobs in the previous 12 months alone. We know that fewer people are entering the profession, as evidenced by sharp declines in the number of education graduates. Some schools have resorted to hiring teachers who haven\u2019t undergone traditional teacher training. And while educators were already calling it quits at alarming rates, recent survey data shows that 27% of existing teachers are more likely to leave teaching or retire early due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

The Teacher Shortage Has Accelerated During the Coronavirus Pandemic<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, the edtech industry is booming. Throughout 2020 investor interest in edtech remained strong, even amidst global economic downturns. Over $16 billion<\/a> was invested in edtech companies worldwide, with three late stage startups claiming the biggest piece of the pie.One thing they all had in common? All three outsource functions of the teacher to automated intelligence (AI).<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: The three companies that received the most investor funding in 2020 were Yuanfudao, BYJU’S<\/a>, and Zuoyebang. <\/strong><\/p>\n

As the teaching profession languishes and the edtech industry soars, we find ourselves in a pivotal moment where two futures for the teacher have emerged.<\/p>\n

One is a future where certain functions of the teacher may be automated. In 2017, the influential British education expert, Anthony Seldon, famously predicted<\/a> that robots will replace teachers, and human teachers will be relegated to the role of classroom assistants by the year 2027. In fact, in some parts of the world, some form of that future has already arrived.<\/p>\n

The EdTech Industry Is Already Automating Significant Aspects of the Teaching Process<\/h2>\n

China has taken the lead<\/a>, with tens of millions of students engaging in AI-powered learning, or \u201cintelligent education.\u201d In some schools<\/a> student engagement is assessed by facial recognition software that gives students a weekly score via a mobile app. AI-based tutoring programs are massively popular<\/a>. And many of these companies have made moves to expand abroad.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., Google offers AI-as-a-service to schools, enabling student data-driven insights. AI powered pilot programs are underway. The global AI in education market is expected to generate $25.7 billion<\/a> in 2030. Undoubtedly, global adoption of AI in education is on the rise.<\/p>\n

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Mr. Bochelly, Unsplash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The promise of AI in the classroom is profound: a completely personalized one-to-one education; expanded access to quality resources; a revolution in learning unlike anything we\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n

But while experts agree that AI will play a key role in 21st century education, they also voice concerns<\/a> about the potential harms of outsourcing certain functions of the teacher. Are we facing a future in which we risk depriving students of essential human interaction at critical moments in their development?<\/p>\n

In spite of these concerns, when we consider the rapid emergence and adoption of AI-powered learning coupled with the magnitude of the teacher shortage, a future wherein the teacher\u2019s role has significantly shifted can start to seem plausible, if not inevitable.<\/p>\n

But there is a second path for the teacher that we must consider.<\/p>\n

An Alternative to an Automated Learning Environment: Tackling the Teacher Shortage<\/h2>\n

This would be an alternative future\u2013one where edtech doesn\u2019t replace the teacher, but instead helps to restore the role to its formerly venerated position. This is a future in which technology empowers teachers to flow uninterrupted, masterfully directing their classrooms.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake\u2014the teacher shortage is a deeply complex issue with many contributing factors. It\u2019s going to require multifaceted solutions far beyond those offered up by the tech industry.<\/p>\n

And of course the issue of job automation extends far beyond the teaching profession. Hastened by the pandemic, we\u2019ve seen the fourth industrial revolution threaten all kinds of professions, including doctors, factory workers, journalists, lawyers, service industry workers, and truck drivers. These are among the most common jobs in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Humanity is being called on to reckon with what makes us unique. In the age of automation, what can we deliver that machines and algorithms can\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Leveraging Human Intelligence<\/h2>\n

Among the many lessons the pandemic has taught us is that, while technology plays an essential role in keeping us connected, it is no substitute for direct human interaction. Teachers can listen and empathize. Teachers can love. And, critically, teachers can apply those uniquely human abilities to education in a way that machines cannot.<\/p>\n

The second path for the teacher is one that prioritizes student-teacher interactions, and places human engagement and collaboration at the foreground.<\/p>\n

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Which education technology will see the largest growth in the next three years? Download the new U.S. State of Technology report to find out what education leaders and teachers believe – #promethean<\/a> #stateofedtechus<\/a> #edtech<\/a> #education<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/ML6kjqqxN5<\/a><\/p>\n

— Promethean (@Promethean) January 21, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n