GURU VS. GOOGLE

The little rectangle on the Google page can instantly find answers to one’s query. Therefore, the quest is no longer about finding a good Guru or a great library but learning how to frame a question or a query on the Google search page? The role of Guru or a teacher has been traditionally defined and practiced in Asia and elsewhere in the world for the last two centuries is on the verge of becoming an anachronism. Now it is Google, not the Guru, creating, curating, and disseminating new knowledge with lightning speed. New and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, IoT, and Cloud computing are harnessing the power of the internet in unprecedented ways. These new technologies are bringing dramatic changes in the global educational landscape, transforming the breadth, depth, and quality of education by providing opportunities for learning from anywhere for anyone and at any time. Although during the ongoing pandemic usage of the internet and online tools, such as Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia, YouTube, Cisco WebEx, ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, Learning Management Systems (LMSs), and many other new technologies have increased, but the majority of the universities continue to take pride in the traditional “Sage on the Stage” model and keep allowing the delivery of didactic and stale academic programs and courses. Globalization of higher education is the center stage in the contemporary world. In border-less education, the quality of programs, courseware, and delivery systems is becoming an essential facet of higher education. No matter how much pride the universities may take in their traditional glamour and their place in society, they must reform and integrate new technologies for digital learning. There is little doubt that in the post COVID era, new technologies will drive remote learning pedagogies.