The Endless Replacements of Technology...Apart from Teachers by Casey
Caseyof Tuttle's entry into Varsity Tutor's May 2020 scholarship contest
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The Endless Replacements of Technology...Apart from Teachers by Casey - May 2020 Scholarship Essay
Technology has taken over the world in a matter of years. From career choices to ordering fast food at the local McDonald’s, the world we live in today is quickly changing. The way life was in 1970 is not the same as it is today, just as it will not be in 2070. Thus, education in fifty years will become nearly unrecognizable to those in school today.
Like the rest of the world, education has started the journey of transitioning to technology. In a mere fifty years, tablets will take the place of textbooks, making them an item of the past. Students today prefer tablets to books for many reasons. Instead of hauling a backpack from class to class that weighs fifty pounds, they only need a simple pouch. Furthermore, it makes studying simpler, with all of the necessary resources located in one place. There are also benefits on the educational side, not just convenience. With tablets, learning material will no longer be outdated, providing teachers with the most current information available. As a student myself, I can personally vouch for the authenticity of these statements. Therefore, without any doubt, in fifty years, education will rid of textbooks, and possibly all paper, and move to tablets.
Another change that I see possible in fifty years is the removal of whiteboards. Although they are a step up from the once-popular chalkboard, many difficulties can still arise. For the board to work correctly, there needs to be a specific type of marker, eraser, and cleaning solution. Otherwise, it can ruin. Thus, I believe surface table computers will take the place of whiteboards, and also projectors. With surface tables installed in schools, it will be easier for the teachers to prepare and present the learning material, providing a much more efficient way of learning. Furthermore, they will no longer need to worry about all the concerns that come with a whiteboard. With the invention of whiteboards having been almost sixty years ago, they will surely become a tool of the past in fifty more years.
One change that has already happened in the past five years is the quick transformation from in-class education to online learning. From EPIC Charter Schools to the abrupt move to Zoom as a result of the COVID-19, leaders continued to provide ways for students to learn, whether they are in person or not. However, while online learning is helpful in the sudden arrival of specific circumstances, I do not believe that it will become a new normal. Teachers are unable to provide the best education available, and students are unable to reach their full potential. Although many students will transition to a permanent online learning program, in fifty years, the primary source of education will remain in the school building, in person.
Ultimately, education in fifty years will transform technologically, possibly in ways that we would never have deemed possible in today’s world. Although computers can have negative impacts, they can also provide amazing results. Technology has so much potential. I believe that in 2070, education will completely revolutionize, continuing to provide the best learning environments available. However, although technology can assist in so many ways, replacing many outdated learning resources, it will never be able to take the place of a teacher and the valuable interaction and relationships that they have with their pupils.