Redefining the Role of Teachers in the Digital Era

Abstract

This paper deals with key roles required for a teacher in new digital era. Teachers’ role in the 21st century has become more complex in the present changing world here knowledge is almost unlimited. Teachers are expected to become technologically oriented and responsible not only for their teaching but also for their students’ learning. Today teachers are required to be facilitators helping learners to make judgements about the quality and validity of new sources and knowledge, be open-minded and critical independent professionals, be active co-operators, collaborators, and mediators between learners and what they need to know, and providers to scaffold understanding. In this digital era, teachers’ role has shifted from mere preacher to the manager of students social and emotions behaviours; mentor for their learning and over-all development as a balanced citizen; motivator for slow learner and a fast learner in digital environment. He has to keep watch on the time spent by learners for their proper time management which make certain that the learner utilize optimum e-resources. He has to address social and emotional issues that affect learners’ learning, and be ready to make changes when their learning stalls.