Biju Dharmapalan
On September 5th, each year, we commemorate Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and contemplate the enduring influence of educators on society. On this day, we take a moment to contemplate the influence of educators on the development of young minds, the direction of society, and the cultivation of future citizens. Historically, it has been a day of celebration, reminiscence, and gratitude. However, Teachers’ Day necessitates introspection in 2025, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the very foundation of education.
The teacher’s function has always been critical; however, it is currently at a juncture. On the one hand, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to prepare students for an interconnected world by establishing a holistic, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary learning system. Conversely, AIplatforms and systems currently provide the transdisciplinary, adaptive, and personalised learning NEP 2020 envisioned. And in the middle, we have educators—many of whom are still bound by antiquated methods, rigid curricula, and exam-centric teaching.
This paradox raises the question: Why are teachers falling behind if AI can seamlessly incorporate transdisciplinary learning? Additionally, what lessons can educators extract from AI to develop into authentic mentors for Gen Alpha, the generation that was born into a digital-first world?
AI and the Lost Promise of Transdisciplinary Learning
The NEP 2020 aimed to dismantle the compartmentalisation of subjects. It underscored critical thinking, creativity, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving, frequently necessitating interdisciplinary connections. A student ought not to perceive mathematics as isolated from music, nor literature as inconsequential to science. Education ought to mirror the reality of existence: interrelated, dynamic, and ever evolving.
Ironically, AI systems are currently implementing this goal. Request an AI tool to elucidate climate change, and it may promptly integrate atmospheric science with economics, politics, history, and literature. Request assistance for a youngster in learning music, and it can include physics (sound waves), mathematics (rhythms), and cultural studies (origins of instruments). This exemplifies transdisciplinary learning in practice, facilitated not by educational institutions but by machines.
Educators frequently adhere to disjointed subject boundaries, curriculum-based lectures, and memorisation-based evaluations. The chance to evoke amazement by connecting ideas across several fields is commonly overlooked. In this regard, educators have not met the NEP’s mandate for transdisciplinary education.
This failure is not irreversible. It is, in reality, an opportunity. Educators may restore their position as inspirational mentors by embracing AI rather than fearing it.
Five Lessons Teachers Must Acquire from AI
1. Individualisation Takes Priority Over Standardisation:
AI thrives on customisation. Adaptive platforms are capable of monitoring the strengths, weaknesses, pace, and manner of each learner, thereby providing personalised content. This personalised approach is intuitive for Gen Alpha, who are accustomed to immediate responses, curated feeds, and on-demand entertainment. Teachers may take advantage of this information.The model of instruction that is universally applicable is no longer viable. A teacher’s arsenal must include differentiated instruction, flexible lesson plans, and personalised mentoring. An exceptional teacher is not one who completes the curriculum; rather, they ignite the individual potential of each student.
2. Fostering Curiosity, Not Conformity:
AI never grows weary of responding to enquiries. AI responds without judgement to a “why” from a five-year-old or a “how” from an aspiring scientist. Conversely, classrooms frequently discourage curiosity in the interest of exam preparation, discipline, or the completion of the syllabus.
The joy of inquiry must be rediscovered by instructors in order to inspire Gen Alpha. They must embrace inquiry, regardless of whether it presents a challenge. Albert Einstein once stated, “The main thing is to continue to question.” Lifelong learners are fostered by educators who foster curiosity, while those who discourage it cultivate mechanical rote learners.
3. Thinking Beyond Subject Silos:
AI illustrates how literature can elucidate psychology, how art can enlighten physics, and how coding can intersect with music. Teachers must also adopt collaborative, transdisciplinary teaching. The mandate and the authority to do so are provided by NEP 2020. A literature teacher and a biology teacher could collaborate to investigate environmental poetry, while a history teacher and a maths teacher could investigate ancient Indian mathematics. This is the process by which learning is brought to life.
4. Feedback as a Continuous Dialogue :
AI tools are exceptional at providing immediate feedback, whether through assessments, practice tests, or writing evaluations. This continuous feedback spiral is both instructive and motivating for students. In contrast, educators frequently restrict feedback to annual reports or quarterly assessments.
Teachers can acquire the ability to provide feedback that is more immediate, constructive, and supportive. A brief reflective dialogue, a quick note on improvement, or a tender word of encouragement can impact a child’s development more than pages of red ink on an exam paper.
5. The Essence of Lifelong Learning:
AI algorithms are perpetually updated. They adapt, evolve, and acquire knowledge. It is incumbent upon educators to emulate this behaviour. In a world where knowledge doubles every few years, a teacher who ceases to learn after acquiring a degree is unable to motivate Gen Alpha. Teachers must adopt continuous learning—reskilling, upskilling, and maintaining intellectual agility—in order to remain pertinent. More importantly, they must serve as examples of this learning mentality, demonstrating to students that learning is an ongoing process.
What AI Can’t Teach—and Where Teachers Need to Shine
AI can give you ideas, but it can’t take the position of professors. Three things that no AI can copy are:
1. Empathy: A machine can give information, but it can’t feel the sorrow of a pupil who is having trouble or hear the unspoken scream for help behind a preoccupied glance. Teachers can.
2. Ethics: AI can come up with answers, but it can’t teach people how to have values, make decisions, and think morally. Teachers are the ones who make sure that students learn about ethics.
3. Inspiration: AI can make things look creative but can’t spark the human spirit. A great teacher can get kids to believe in themselves, dream big, and work for a better society.
These are not small distinctions; they are essential. They remind us that teachers don’t have to be afraid of AI. They must instead add to it. If AI is the encyclopaedia, the teacher must be the wise person. If AI is the guide, the instructor must be the compass.
Transitioning from Providers of Information to Custodians of Wisdom
On this Teachers’ Day, we must enquire: What type of educators does Generation Alpha require?
They do not require information providers—Google and ChatGPT provide that role. Disciplinarians demanding conformity are unnecessary—algorithms already standardise efficiency. Gen Alpha need sagacious mentors: educators who can personalise learning, integrate disciplines, cultivate curiosity, and motivate ethical behaviour.
To serve as effective mentors, educators must acquire knowledge from AI while transcending its limitations. They must incorporate transdisciplinary knowledge akin to AI and infuse empathy, ethics, and inspiration. Only then will they exemplify the authentic essence of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s vision: education as the craft of rendering life significant.
As we commemorate Teachers’ Day in 2025, let us refrain from only offering perfunctory congratulations and floral offerings. Let us regard it as a summons for transformation.
To educators nationwide: perceive AI not as a menace but as a mentor. Understand its strengths—personalization, curiosity, feedback, integration—and incorporate them into your teaching. Simultaneously, reinforce the qualities that render you indispensable: empathy, ethics, and inspiration.
Bear in mind that Generation Alpha is observing. They will not be motivated by educators who adhere to antiquated ways, but by those who adapt with audacity and innovation. They will not honour educators who simply convey information, but rather those who inspire wisdom.
On this Teachers’ Day, let us remember that AI is not intended to supplant the teacher, but rather to invigorate the teacher’s role. It serves as a mirror, reflecting our potential if we relinquish rigidity and adopt creativity. To maintain relevance with Generation Alpha, educators must assimilate insights from AI while transcending it—transforming from mere conveyors of information into architects of wisdom and empathy.
Dr.Biju Dharmapalan
(Dr.Biju Dharmapalan is the Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bangalore and an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, E-mail: bijudharmapalan@gmail.com)
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