The heart of a teacher - something AI cannot replace

Ethics, the foundation of sustainable digital education

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Vu, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Information Technology , University of Science (VNU-HCM) warned that without an ethical framework, AI could cause harm instead of supporting humans. He proposed ensuring the principles of transparency, fairness, responsibility and humanity in the development and use of AI.

Sharing the same view, Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Kiem, Senior IT Advisor of Saigon International University, said: “If we teach AI to “speak correctly” but forget to teach humans to “live correctly”, the risk will not come from AI, but from humans themselves.” According to him, the important thing in the AI era is not “who is smarter”, but “who is more humane”.

Dr. Tran Van Tung, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, commented: “Technology can help people learn better, but it can also make people dependent if they lack digital skills and the right orientation.” The story of a student seeking advice from AI and facing heartbreaking consequences is a warning bell about the responsibility of adults in educating children about emotions and digital skills. Because in the end, education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about nurturing people, something that no algorithm can replace. AI can assist, but teachers are still the “heart” of education and human emotions are still what make knowledge valuable.

This is further confirmed when in the entire national education system, teachers always hold a core position. Resolution 57 clearly affirms: “Teachers are the decisive factor in the quality of education; building a team of teachers with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, meeting the requirements of fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training”.

This is not only a recognition, but also a strong political commitment that all reforms and innovations must start from teachers. In recent years, the Vietnamese teaching staff has been under a lot of pressure from the times: the need to innovate teaching methods, adapt to digital transformation, and maintain the role of "guide" in a world where knowledge changes every day. Many teachers have taken the lead in applying technology, bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, developing digital learning materials, creating open learning spaces where students are encouraged to be creative and self-study. However, in that context, the role of the traditional teacher, teaching ethics, humanity, emotions and responsibility, has become more sacred and necessary than ever.

As technology is gradually taking over the classroom, Resolution 57 emphasizes the need for comprehensive human development, not only in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of personality, lifestyle, ethics and civic spirit. That is the “soul” of humanistic education that teachers play a role in inspiring. Teachers today not only need to be good at their profession, but also need to have the ability to orient values - helping students to love, respect differences, and live responsibly towards the community and towards themselves.

“Education is the field that, above all, needs the human heart”

A deeply controversial comment by Professor Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences: "Teachers use AI to teach, students use AI to learn, in the end no one teaches, no one learns, only technology works."

AI can compose lessons, grade them, and even write essays, but it cannot replace the teacher-student relationship in education, he said. “No one who writes an essay wants their essay graded by a machine. Education is not just about imparting knowledge, but also about emotions, beliefs, and character.”

Mr. Vinh warned that if schools, teachers and parents only chase after technological conveniences and forget the core goal of training people, education will fall into the “illusion of efficiency”. “Technology is everywhere, except in education, because education is the field that needs the human heart the most”, he emphasized.

In fact, AI can replace teachers in grading papers, can teach students how to solve math problems or write essays, but it cannot teach students how to love, how to choose the right things, how to live with purpose. Those core values can only come from humans - from teachers.

As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, the role of teachers does not disappear, but on the contrary, their role becomes more profound. Teachers not only impart knowledge, but also guide, guide, and inspire self-learning ability, compassion, and critical thinking in each student.

Associate Professor Dr. Luu Bich Ngoc, Chief of Office of the National Council for Education and Human Resources Development, also raised a thought-provoking fact: “If three years ago AI was still a strange concept, now this technology is present in thousands of EdTech products. It can grade papers, personalize knowledge, but cannot replace humans. Will there still be teachers in a few years, when there are classrooms with “virtual teachers”?

Answering that question, Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) affirmed: “AI can prepare lessons and grade, but cannot teach how to be a human being. The role of teachers is not only to impart knowledge, but also to guide and help students understand technology so that they are not controlled by technology.”

According to Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc, a humanistic education cannot only have data and tools, but must have people, teachers who teach with their hearts. Accordingly, teachers in the AI era need three new levels of capacity - Knowledge level: AI helps access unlimited data, but teachers are the ones who "connect" that data into meaningful knowledge. Teachers are no longer "speakers", but "guides". Emotional level: AI can simulate emotions, but cannot truly feel. An encouraging look, an encouraging nod, a trusting handshake... those are things that only the human heart has.

Personality layer: AI is smart, but not human. Teachers teach students to be kind, responsible, compassionate, that is what makes education. According to SuperCharger's report, 66% of current educational technology has "Go AI". A series of tools such as ChatGPT, Khanmigo, Cognii or Elsa are changing the way of learning globally. There are even tools that can create video lectures with virtual teachers.

At that time, AI is not a replacement, but a mirror that helps teachers become more profound. In the world of technology, “being human” is the hardest lesson. Because the further we advance in intelligence, the more humanity must return to morality. If we let machines decide for us, we will lose our ability to think, lose our identity and become dependent. A sustainable education must be an education that knows how to “stop at the right time”, knows how to balance knowledge and emotion, data and humanity, the true emotions of humans.

Professor John Vu, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology at Carnegie University (USA), expressed: "What makes a person truly valuable is not how quickly they can access data, but their personality, ethics and responsibility to society."

Learning is not just about receiving data, but also about thinking, analyzing, transforming into skills, attitudes and actions. It is a process that only teachers, with experience and personality, can accompany students. If education only focuses on stuffing knowledge through machines, ignoring personality education, we will create generations that know a lot but live poorly, smart in data but helpless in dealing with people. Teachers, families and communities must play a leading role in nurturing the spirit, personality and compassion of the young generation. This is something that no technology can replace.

A strong education cannot rely on tools alone, but on teachers - those who sow knowledge, inspire and nurture morality in students. If this element is lost, any technological advancement will only lead people astray.

Education in the AI era is therefore not a race between humans and machines, but a journey to find the human nature in knowledge. As technology becomes more and more human, teachers must be more "human" than ever. Because only heart, love and personality can make knowledge become a living value. And in the end, in the world of intelligent machines, what we need most is still the teacher, the one who helps students know how to "use technology to become human" with all ambitions, aspirations and carry gratitude in their hearts to mature...

In an AI-based learning environment, students can easily look up knowledge and do exercises using smart tools, but no algorithm can replace the empathy, patience and personality of a teacher. Because the exemplary role model, love for the profession and tolerance of a teacher are the most profound "touches" that students carry with them throughout their lives. Because people grow up with ethics, emotions, responsibilities and gratitude to teachers from emotional touches, when a teacher, with his or her belief, can change a person's life, it becomes more sacred than ever.

And so, teachers in any era, always maintain their value, are inspirational people, there will be teachers that students will always remember and carry with them in their life's journey...

Teachers are still the "heart" of education
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Manh Ha (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) said that technology forces teachers to become models of innovation. “Only when they dare to apply technology can teachers lead in the digital age. But innovation does not mean being replaced. Teachers are still the “heart” of education.”

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/trai-tim-nguoi-thay-dieu-ai-khong-the-thay-the.html