Is changing the role of the teacher (not the personality), now the teacher is more coach or guide better than the owner of the konwledge, as it is in the past
If by modern you mean technology enhanced learning, then I believe it has its place with traditional delivery. Teaching and learning needs to be accessible and respond to life long learning.
Certainly the data show and the theoretical understanding of its teaching approach is of fundamental importance for the lesson planning, being able to unite theory and practice. The impact is a substantial change in teaching practice.
Sandra, I appreciate you using your language of comfort. After all, those of us sitting at a computer most likely have access to applications such as Google Translate. (You have provided me with a little cognitive dissonance to improve my personal growth). Creating focused lesson plans and curriculum designs with the universality of learning styles in mind, demands attention to visual, auditory, read/write, kinesthetic learning. Technology enhanced learning, implies the use of tools such as using data displays, and electronic communications. Effective teaching requires going beyond (not omitting) the 'sage on the stage.' It may be more beneficial for some learners for faculty to take a backseat, facilitate, and mentor the lessons. That being said, good stewardship of any learning setting requires faculty to be available to step up as the 'sage on the stage' and direct the learning, whether it be to interject questions or re-direct off-topic discussions.
I personally think modern methods and techniques of teaching are rather helping promote the teacher, reducing his workload and rather making him more knowledgeable than what used to be. For instant, teachers now have access to the internet which helps him to easy access further information and videos easily unlike having to move from the comfort of his home to the library of embark on a field trip. teachers now have easy access to students and they could communicate in diverse ways for their problems to be solved. shy students could easily send in their questions through the mail. the teachers have a high advantage of being previewed to a variety of information.