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Technology is definitely an important part of today's society, and they are starting to teach it younger and younger. It would be great to ease into it each year.

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I think it is important for lower grade levels to get introduced to technology and start growing their knowledge on it because they will be using it as they get older, but I also think they should not go completely technology based. If they do, as the students get older I feel as if they will not know how to communicate properly and not understand how to follow instructional, lecture based teachers.

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At a recent British Council debate, Is teaching obsolete?, executive headteacher Pamela Wright, called for caution around technology in teaching. Here is a transcript of her argument.

I am a passionate believer in the teaching profession.

Teachers do not simply impart information and knowledge; teaching is not merely about systems, facts, figures and certainly does not exist to promote insularity and lack of social interaction.

If any of these elements were true, then my argument would fall down immediately. It is because the teaching profession is the complete antithesis to all of these ideas, that my argument is strong and compelling.

So where do I stand as an educator, as a leader in education? The centre point of my passion is a philosophy that I instil into my staff, into the school and into every school I support. It is the child - first and foremost.

The question I ask every day is what does the child need and what is the best way to ensure that every one of that child's needs are met? After all, a young person only gets one chance at a good education.

Our goal as teachers fundamentally is to encourage independent thought, independent enquiry and ultimately independent learning. It has been argued that new means of learning will be the way to facilitate this in the future. I say resoundingly no.

Aristotle said "man is a political animal" - central to that idea was mankind's innate desire to interact with one another and learn from one another, socialise with one another. Some may say that social media does this - but does it really?

Put at its simplest, if future models of learning means encouraging young people to spend prolonged periods in front of faceless computer screens, exposed to largely unregulated material in an inherently unsafe environment, then that is clearly not the way forward.

Education is much more complex than that. It is about the trust and bond between a teacher and young person (and parents) that creates the environment where learning can occur and grow. Virtual learning simply cannot do that. I would argue that in a world now where young people are retreating more and more into virtual unreality, the teaching profession is more important than it ever was. It is teaching that keeps it real - teaching that keeps young people alive. In short, teachers and the profession will never die.

In almost 40 years as an educator, I cannot think of one single occasion when someone has stopped me to recall fondly about an inspirational and influential piece of computer software. And yet I get letters from former students eulogising over a teacher who changed the direction of their lives and without whom they would not be in the position they are today. That is the result of trust, about a relationship between the teacher and the child.

Now if all these elements could be packaged into a new technology - a new learning model then I would hold my hands up now and concede the debate. It can't. And that is the essence of my argument.

Teachers don't simply teach concepts and skills. Any new technology can do that.

Good teachers inspire our young people to be lifelong learners, creating a culture of independent enquiry with their enthusiasm and passion. I know this because I see it every day. Good teachers have the skills to know exactly how to get the best out of each and every young person in their care:

No 'new models of learning' can ever compromise or threaten the essence of what a teacher is, always has been and always will be.

Teachers want the best for their young people and use new technologies in their lessons. But the delivery of this new technology and learning models is just as important - if not more important than the technology itself. I know it is.

That said, technology can only do so much. It can be transient and can become obsolete very quickly. What is a constant though, is the teacher in the classroom who across the world at this very moment and tomorrow morning will be putting the needs of their young people first, finding the best fit to ensure that everyone achieves more than they ever dreamed possible.

Transcript from the 'Is teaching obsolete?' debate at Salford University on 4 June. Organised by Going Global, the British Council's conference for leaders of higher education and the Qatar Foundation's World Innovation Summit for Education, as part of Qatar UK 2013 year of culture. The video of the speech and the whole debate is available here.
Pamela Wright, OBE, is executive headteacher at Wade Deacon High School.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Looking for your next role? Take a look at Guardian jobs for schools for thousands of the latest teaching, leadership and support jobs.

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Why new technologies could never replace great teaching

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At a recent British Council debate, Is teaching obsolete?, executive headteacher Pamela Wright, called for caution around technology in teaching. Here is a transcript of her argument. I am a passionate believer in the teaching profession.

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As the generations go, the technology gets more and more important. I feel that the students will learn more with technology, because they spend more time with technology now.

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By Joyce Waddell*

Although technology is finally being integrated into education, its use for teaching and learning still remains a challenge. Despite the fact that many schools today are privileged to have ready access to technology, trained teachers, and a favourable policy environment, the use of technology in the classroom is still low. Some attribute low levels of technology use in education to the pedagogical beliefs of teachers.

With that said, the potential of technology to enhance learning cannot be overemphasized. The use of technology is something that started a long time ago for students with special needs. For example, brail machines have been utilized for the visually impaired. In addition, special needs programs that help children with autism use technology to enhance learning. By integrating technology into education, educators aim to engender pedagogical change and address fundamental issues that affect learners with special needs. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change.

Today, technologies used to improve and facilitate learning can be found everywhere. Leaving other contextual factors to the side - such as unequal access to technological innovations and connected technologies across schools and districts - we can only say that we have embraced technology in education when it is used for both teaching and learning. With the incorporation of technology into schools, the main purpose is to change how teachers and students gather, access, analyse, present and transmit information. This can democratize information in classrooms as well as help differentiate instruction, particularly for students with special needs.

Assistive technology for students with special needs

Assistive technology can be defined as an item, piece of equipment or product system that can be used to maintain, increase or improve functional capabilities for any person with a special need. Thus, the incorporation of educational technology can also provide benefits to students with disabilities who may be in a better position to interact with the lesson through technology. Moreover, technology can place teachers in a better position to customize learning for students with special needs.

What is the relationship between technology in education and pedagogy?

Research has illustrated that many educators have had a hard time integrating technology into education. This may be because many educators have yet to explore the relationship between technology and pedagogy. Doing so could play a huge part in encouraging critical thinking by teachers as they attempt to integrate technology into education.

At the same time, for technology to work effectively, it should only be incorporated in classroom if it is appropriate for a given instructional task. Also, technology can only be an effective teaching tool if teachers participate in decisions to adopt technology. This is because teachers have the responsibility of facilitating instruction and incorporating technology at the classroom level, yet many school administrators tend to make decisions related to technology adoption/training without consulting teachers.

How Technology can be used to Improve Learning

The following are ways that technology could be better leveraged to improve learning:

With the widespread availability of student databases that are able to track individual progress, teachers are encouraged to identify learning objectives and differentiate instruction based on the needs of their students.

Whenever teachers attempt to present instruction using technology, they should do so using a channel that is relevant to the objectives, the learning style, mode and the technology selected.

When evaluating technology-based instruction, there needs to be appropriate evaluation techniques that are in line with the methods of instruction, objectives and the technology.

Teachers can design follow-up activities when using technology to evaluate students' learning and the role technology played in that process.

Overall, technology is central to many sectors of society and its integration into the education process has great promise for student learning. With technology, one can expect increased efficiency and effectiveness on both the part of teachers and students. Technology can also prompt pedagogical change and address issues that affect learning, teaching and social organization. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change. Students should embrace technology for them to benefit and teachers should be open to introducing technology into the classroom to improve and innovate their teaching practice.
*This week's guest blogger is Joyce Waddell. Joyce studied social work at Azusa Pacific University. She is interested in adaptive learning technologies and its impact on higher education. She has been a social media specialist and freelance blogger since 2014.

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The Role of Technology in the Educational Process

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By Joyce Waddell* Although technology is finally being integrated into education, its use for teaching and learning still remains a challenge. Despite the fact that many schools today are privileged to have ready access to technology, trained teachers, and a favourable policy environment, the use of technology in the classroom is still low.

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Do you think it is possible for learning in lower grade levels to go completely technology based?