Robots don’t give very good hugs; they’re too metallic, cold, and hard. On the opposite end of the spectrum, as a teacher intern myself, I have been told by many of my students that I give some of the best hugs.
There is a certain quality that robots will never be able to take away from teachers; in her article, Natasha Smerling puts it simply – Robots will never replace teachers because they lack the ability to inspire students.
Education, more specifically when studying literature, is about much more than reading. Technology can make reading easier, maybe more readily available, but hate to break the news, a kindle won’t be able to have a deep intellectual discussion about the complex nuances of an author’s choice and use of figurative language.
Learning is emotional process – it’s very human. There is a deficit created when education lacks a human element to it. In “Massively Open”, the online classrooms lack a concrete element that motivates and cultivates curiosity within students, which leads them to be less successful. This mirrors reality with actual online charter schools having a graduation percentage lower than 50%.
Students need teachers to inspire within them a love for learning. Students need teachers who can animatedly read them a story, pulling them into an imaginative world, encouraging them to explore and create. Students also need teachers to do more than just teach, they need teachers to care. Robots can’t do this – Remember, they don’t give good hugs.
Literature & the Internet 