The use of wireless computers such as tablets is an increasing trend in schools today. Tablets have become more widespread, and this fact has led to the debate over whether or not schools should switch to digital textbooks on tablets from print textbooks. Tablet opponents allege that the digital devices are costly, very distracting for students, they break easily and it is expensive and time- consuming to fix them. They add that tablets contribute to eyestrain, blurred vision, need expensive Wi-Fi connections and get outdated fast as new technologies are produced. The supporters of tablets claim that they have the support of many teachers and students, they are not as heavy as print books and lead to improvement of consistent test scores. The proponents add that the tablets can contain many textbooks, protect the environment by reducing the amount of printing, lead to student interactivity and are not as costly as print textbooks. Both tablets and textbooks provide advantages to students but in different ways. The argument presented by the proponents, however, seems more persuasive as they provide more advantages of the use of tablets. Tablets should, therefore, replace print textbooks.
Digital tablets are new but common to the classrooms. They provide most of the features that those of print textbooks, though in a different way. Tablets are portable, light and more robust in the amount of content and their capacity to display. They are also capable of displaying photos, offering animation, and allowing the interaction of the user with some of the content. This feature of interacting and engaging with the student is a good combination (Railean).
Tablets can also hold many books in one place. Most of these devices have storage space ranging from eight to 64 gigabytes that allow one tablet to contain a big amount of necessary books. They are also capable of expanding memory for the purpose of holding even more information. Tablets may be used to hold quiz materials and live illustrations. Students can also highlight text in tablets as compared to print books which would be considered as the act of destroying the book.
Tablets also permit students to get current information as compared to textbooks that easily get outdated. Electronic books contained in tablets can be easily and quickly updated allowing the students to have the latest versions of the books. It would be expensive to purchase a print book every time it is updated or after every edition. They provide more open-source material making the need to purchase books not necessary for schools. Open source can be accessed by any person and normally requires no cast to use.
Tablets also give teachers the ability to design, develop, and use material they collect from online resources. It is usually time- consuming for teachers though helpful to students. Collecting information, searching and developing new lessons requires a lot of energy, but once the materials best suitable for the students have been found, it becomes easy to use them. Students also perform better with tablets as they are empowered to be responsible for their own learning. Pupils who have tablets have the tendency of reading more books as compared to those who do not have ones (Huang, et al.). Books on tablets can be read at any time and any location. Additionally, teachers can help the students in customizing their learning by the use of tablets with numerous educational applications designed for tablet use. Students are also able to easily work together through the use of online blogs and education-based social networks which are very god for learning performance and social interactions of students (Enriquez).
Studies have revealed that students are more prone to educational stress and disappointment when they are not able to keep up with what is taught in class. Multimedia learning has offered an edge for the students who find it hard to remember what they were taught in the past classes. It is a fun method of learning which makes the children have an interest in the topic with good illustrations and animated descriptions. Children tend to learn things that they are most interested in, and tablets provide that interest. Motivation in students is also said to increase when they are using technology instead of traditional means of learning.
The world outside school is very competitive. Students should be prepared to encounter the challenges of the corporate world once they are done with school. Tablets are mostly used at workplaces and students should be ready to embrace their usage right from the beginning. More concentration should be given to skills together with job-oriented information, and the use of tablets for that purpose is beneficial. The modern employer requires employees who are technologically equipped. Students who use tablets in their learning will be better equipped in these modern workplaces as compared to those who use print textbooks. Some of the work duties such as submitting reports will be easy for them as they will be used to submitting typed assignments (Rossing, et al.).
The use of tablets over textbooks is also more affordable. If one calculates the amount of money that parents spend buying textbooks for their children annually it will be more than the cost of buying a tablet. Rather than using one textbook, a student may refer to the numerous books that a tablet may contain (Rossing, et al.). A tablet, therefore, offers a solution to parents for buying additional books per year and students are provided with extra reference materials. Tablets are also not subjected to wear and tear in comparison with textbooks making them easy to pass on to others. They can also be shared by many people on the go at a very small cost or at no cost as compared to textbooks which will require incurring photocopying costs.
Studies have also revealed that students should carry not more than 15% of their own weight. Most school bags contain books weighing much more than the recommended 15% of such student’s weight. These books lead to back pain issues and exhaustion after school. A tablet reduces the heavy weight of textbooks hence protecting the health of the student.
Adaptation of the use of tablets instead of textbooks also leads to environmental protection and is cost-effective for schools. The paper is saved if notes are taken on tablets. This fact reduces the demand for exercise books. The use of tablets also reduces the need for printed books hence less use of paper. It will reduce the number of trees that are cut down to make textbooks and exercise books. Homework, presentations, and other projects are also more interactively handled with the use of tablets. Cutting down of trees have adverse effects on the environment which may be avoided through the use of tablets (Kaganer, et al.).
Tablets are user- friendly as they have the option of reducing the brightness, but textbooks do not have this option. Manufacturers are also ensuring that the lighting in their tablet devices does not harm the eyes of the users. It makes it safe to read material from a tablet as compared to the textbooks.
In conclusion, the use of tablets in schools is on the rise, which evokes a debate on whether or not tablets should be used instead of textbooks. Opponents of tablets have presented various arguments such as high costly, distraction for students, fragility, etc. The opponents also claim the health disadvantages, such as eye problems, that the use of tablets may cause. The proponents have presented arguments such as tablets providing motivation for students to learn as they are a fun way of learning due to the graphics and other illustrations they provide.
Tablets have also been said to be cost-effective as compared to buying books annually and the fact that books get worn out within a short period. Tablets have also been said to protect environmental pollution as they reduce the need to paper products such as exercise books and textbooks. Tablets also prepare students to be ready for the corporate world where the use of these devices is the norm. The modern employers require employees who are technologically equipped. Students who use tablets in their learning will be better equipped in these modern workplaces as compared to those who use print textbooks. Tablets also give teachers the ability to design, develop, and use material they collect from online resources. They provide most of the features that print textbooks provide, though in a different way. These devices are also portable, light, and more robust in the amount of content and their capacity to display.
The fact that they can contain many books, at times, different versions of the same book is also an added advantage and a feature that is not available in textbooks. Tablets make learning fun and allow education interactions through the use of blogs and other forums. The use of tablets in schools should, therefore, be encouraged.