When in school, I clearly remember writing the day's homework in my almanac with the pointy pencil I sharpened a night before going to bed and writing down notes which the teacher wrote on the blackboard in a neat handwriting and miserably failing at making those curvy cursive letters. It was a task! It was a task I happily repeated every day until they decided to switch from blackboard to smart board, almanac to iPad, and from pencil to Apple pencil. Next thing I expected was a robot named (let's call it Siri) enter and announce that she's going to take over Mrs. Mehta's class from now onwards. Honestly, I wouldn't have been happier because Mrs. Mehta was not easy to deal with. But coming back to our story, they didn't replace Mrs. Mehta. That was a relief!

Being a teacher, as a student understands, is not only about bearing a responsibility as a token for future generations but, in many ways committing to himself or herself to the very thought of it. Today, in modern day school or a university, a teacher-student relationship has been reduced to the seriosity of the nation-state and educational institutes, which not only restricts freedom of thought to mere textbooks and class room’s curriculums but, fundamentally has changed the role of teacher to a mere messenger, who reflects the aspirations of a nation-state.

10 years ago, a teacher must have felt burdened with questions pouring in from children's side, which is a completely different scenario these days. Kids would prefer to Google their answers than asking their teachers. If this is what they wanted, should teachers be happy then? Well, to some extent, yes but that does not mean technology can replace teachers.

In the space of just five years, Google has helped upend the sales methods companies use to place their products in classrooms. It has enlisted teachers and administrators to promote Google’s products to other schools. It has directly reached out to educators to test its products — effectively bypassing senior district officials. And it has outmanoeuvred Apple and Microsoft with a powerful combination of low-cost laptops, called Chromebooks, and free classroom apps.

No matter how advanced or smart Google is, it can never come close to the knowledge and life experience a teacher brings. Several types of research have been conducted and it has been proven time and again that teachers bring about a change which no technology can. A teacher simply does not impart knowledge or information. And teaching is definitely not about facts and figures. A teacher leads, guides, facilitates and mentors a student. They are role models who set an example for students and drive them towards a brighter future. A good teacher encourages independent thoughts and independent learning. He/she can be a positive influence, can be an inspiration to set and achieve goals. The trust and bond between a teacher and student create the perfect learning environment; which can never be achieved through virtual learning.

In today’s age, the old school method of books and notes will not work. Teachers have to stay updated with today’s trends and equip themselves with the latest in technology. They have to implement these technological innovations in their curriculum, without losing their control over the classroom. The future of education is clearly going to be personalized-tech infused learning.