Robots are no longer just an idea of something that might happen in the future. They are here. The latest innovation in Artificial Intelligence is robot teachers. Artificial Intelligence robot teachers have been presented in some schools, not to replace the teacher but to be an assistant. The robots can relay information and answer frequently asked questions asked by the students.
There is speculation that robots will threaten about 800 million jobs worldwide by 2030. This is of great concern to teachers all around the globe. The question that needs to be asked is: Can a robot replace a teacher?
Arguments for robots claim that robots will be able to provide more individualized learning, more objective and timely grading of tests, assignments and examinations as well as having the ability to identify areas of improvements in study programmes. The students who learn faster can be given additional work, while those that need additional help would receive it, all in the same classroom. They also say that these robot teachers offer almost unlimited possibilities in terms of identifying student’s strengths and building on them.
Arguments against these robot teachers say that a teacher’s role is not just to teach, but to look after the students in the class, realizing which students are experiencing difficulties and supporting them. It is one of the most human jobs we have. People are social animals and like to learn in groups and from other people. That is something that no robot can replace. Teachers inspire children and they can relate to things the students are experiencing. Teachers can share their life experiences.
In the end it seems more likely that robots will assist teachers instead of replacing them. We should use the best the teachers have to offer with the best AI has to offer to prepare the students for the future.
