Teaching and Learning in the Digital Era: Changing Roles and Expanded Responsibilities

Abstract

Several changes have characterized the teaching/learning environment in the last decade. The growing importance of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has offered new avenues for teachers and students to deal with content and to ensure practical and effective means of interaction. In addition, the sudden and unexpected events that are taking place all over the globe are urging educationists and stakeholders to seriously think of alternative ways to traditional face to face instruction. The pandemic crisis of COVID 19, the unstable political, economic and social situation in many parts of the world have fostered the idea of migrating to digital (online) learning which guarantees safer and more secured interaction among teachers and students. This paper sheds light on the changing roles and expanded responsibilities of Algerian EFL teachers and students in the 21st Century digital era. Tools of data collection include two different online questionnaires designed for teacher educators and students at the Ecole Normale Supérieure ‘Assia Djebar’, Constantine, Algeria. Results concluded that the experience with e-learning was challenging but worth endeavouring. Moreover, the subjects have shown a certain degree of awareness about the importance of digital instruction in developing students’ autonomous and collaborative learning. On this basis, the study has come up with some suggestions from instructors and learners to make digital learning easier and more effective experience in the future.