Making the Teacher Relevant and Effective in a Technology-Led Teaching and Learning Environment

Growing use of technology in the process of teaching and learning has made the role of teacher subservient if not irrelevant. The teacher has been reduced to the level of an informer and a facilitator. Added to these are the commercial trends which have made the teacher a paid service provider being compensated for his efforts; thus making the noble profession of teaching a commercial enterprise. It has also relegated the traditional function of the teacher as a guide and a mentor, influencing and shaping the lives of students, building their character on higher moral principles. The increasing use of technology has depersonalized the whole process of teaching and learning, taking away the moral high ground and pivotal position the teacher always held. This is a challenge faced by the teachers in a technology-intensive environment. This paper aims at analyzing these factors with a view to exploring ways to make the teacher relevant and effective in a technology-led teaching and learning environment.