DESPITE all the technological develop- ments in the field of education, there is no replacement of a good teacher. There is so much talk going on about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), multimedia, ChatGPT and other technological aids in the classroom. But my teaching experience spanning over 50 years tells me that teaching is not like pouring water into a bucket. Instead, it is akin to creating curiosity, interest, zeal and passion about the subject.

For instilling this inquisitiveness, you need a human of flesh and blood who may respond to emotions, who has emotions, and who can smile, wear the heart on one’s sleeve, and take the students along by doing anything that works in any given situation.

This is a tall order for a machine or AI, as appealing to all students with different frames of mind and moods is an uphill task. A good teacher has to enter the class with a smiling face, make students smile and introduce the subject in such a way that students are amazed, surprised, overawed and excited.

The fact is that there is no fixed teaching methodology that works always. There is no one-size-fit-all approach to teaching. The teacher has to keep on devising new methods, techniques and innovations like a juggler.

Such ideal teachers are difficult to find, so they simplify teaching by using slides, and assuming that the students are learning. Learning acquired this way is short-lived, shoddy and uninventive.

Khayyam Durrani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2024