Metamorphic Role of Teacher

M Satyavathi

Teaching is a dynamic process not a static profession. Teaching-learning process is going through a massive shift. Since times immemorial the curiosity of man to know the unknown appears to be the origin of learning. The persons with logical thinking enquired into nature and imparted their knowledge to others verbally. This process encouraged the Gurukula system of learning. In this system, pupil used to go to the teacher to learn the art of living, along with learning in the field of knowledge of their preference. But it was limited to few communities and they acquired knowledge in a particular field only. There were neither class rooms nor educational institutions. The learning process took place in a natural environment.

However, this system was replaced by Universal education which implies education for all and to learn about everything. This system institutionalized the teaching learning process. It has been streamlined by establishing educational institutions, creating teacher training centers to guide and direct the teacher to meet the requirements of the system. This process revolves around on a prescribed syllabus framed in the form of set text books. The teacher performs the teaching activity with the help of chalk and blackboard to develop various skills of understanding and assimilating knowledge through seeing and listening. This process of imparting knowledge is supported by non–scholastic activities like debates, seminars, cultural and physical activities for over all development of the students’ personality.

Number of in-service programs and training centers are introduced to guide and direct the teacher to meet the challenges of the society and change accordingly without damaging the traditional values and promote brotherhood and humanism. This method of education decentralized the teaching learning process and centralized the concept of knowledge. The direct interaction between the teacher and the taught strengthens the entire system.

However, the world is changing faster than life; the system is moving towards digitalization and online classes. Online classes are one way of imparting knowledge but not the only way of teaching but the crisis that cropped up due to COVID19 Pandemic forced to adopt online teaching. Let us welcome the technological innovations to continue the process of learning that requires lot of preparations. However, we cannot switch over suddenly to the new method. We need a road map to sail smoothly for online teaching with academic autonomy. We must be able to bring together few teachers, technological experts and scholars to evolve a road map and consider the non-accessibility of internet, non-availability of internet and the socioeconomic situations of the society. It is equally important to fulfill the provisions of directive principles of state policy which envisages free and compulsory education to all up to 14 years of age and to implement Right to Education Act. Online teaching replaces text books with note pads, black board and chalk with audio and video clips.

While preparing the road map the members must able to bring uniform standards and broad outline to promote the principle of equality and take into consideration the fact that many live below poverty line, leave alone online facilities most of them go to school for the midday meal program. However, some educational philanthropists also believe that online teaching reduces the community living and collective learning and may create learning apartheid.

Whatever method we follow and system we adopt teaching learning is a continuous process that, provides obedience to create good character that promote our heritage with humanism and scientific temper among the learning community for generations to come.

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M Satyavathi, Post Graduate Trained Teacher in Political Science, Oxford Senior Secondary School, New Delhi