Tablets vs Textbooks in school

[3dnayelin]

Pros
those who are pro tablets say that they are supported by most teachers and students, are much lighter than print textbooks, and improve standardized test scores. They say tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks, save the environment by lowering the amount of printing, increase student interactivity and creativity, and that digital textbooks are cheaper than print textbooks.


Tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks on one device, plus homework, quizzes, and other files, eliminating the need for physical storage of books and classroom materials.
Tablets contain many technological features that cannot be found in print textbooks
Tablets lower the amount of paper teachers have to print for handouts and assignments, helping to save the environment and money
Files on one tablet can be downloaded onto any other tablet, increasing flexibility and convenience for teachers and students.

Cons
Those who are opposed to tablets say that they are expensive, too distracting for students, easy to break, and costly/time-consuming to fix. They say that tablets contribute to eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision, increase the excuses available for students not doing their homework, require costly Wi-Fi networks, and become quickly outdated as new technologies emerge.
Tablets have too many distractions for classroom use.
Print textbooks cannot crash, freeze, or get hacked
Tablets are more susceptible to theft than print textbooks
Tablets enable students to cut corners or cheat on schoolwork
A broken tablet requires an experienced technician to fix, which can be costly and time-consuming.

What do think, should we be able to use tablets in the place of textbook?

[analiessec]

I personally use a tablet for school and I can see the pros and cons firsthand. One main reason to why I chose the tablet route was because my bag became too heavy with all of the binders and multi subject notebooks and we were only in the third week of school. I was struggling to get out binders or folders because my bag was just filled to capacity. By introducing the iPad into my everyday life I eliminated 4 notebooks, one binder. All that was left in my bag was a folder with handouts and looseleaf. One thing that is still left in my bag is the textbook. The only textbook I have to bring to school. My italian textbook. When it first started I was ok with it since I only had an iPad, pencil case, occasional reading books, and a folder in my bag. But as the months went on I realized that the textbook in my bag was really weighing it down. I have now created a system with my friend who is in the same italian class. I bring the textbook on mon, wed, and fri. She brings it tues, and thurs. We’ve learned that the system is actually great. Our backs are no longer in pain. We’ve always discussed buying the textbook on our iPads but the price is too expensive. I have some friends that have to bring more than one textbook to school because it is required and apart of their class participation grade. Once again I do see the pros and cons of the virtual textbook. I personally think that the virtual textbook should be an option. Those who want the tablet textbook should receive them through the help of the school and those who want the tangible textbook should be able to receive them as-well.

[3gsofia]

I do not doubt that tablets are an easy solution to the pain that many students endure as a result of carrying around text books. My only concern that is raised when considering tablets for a classroom environment is how they are actually used. I have seen firsthand how students are actually watching netflix in class and switching the tab back to a page with poor notes when a teacher comes around. This can be a very frustrating situation because now the student claims that he or she was in class and that the teacher is a bad teacher or that they simply do "not get" the material being studied. Unless the amount of watching those with a tablet increases I think that having tablets in the classroom could potentially harm the environment as opposed to helping it.

[10pmadison]

I completely agree with Sofia that tablets aren't always used for education in school. I personally have know someone who does use it for researching and typing up school work, but more often than not, this person uses the tablet for playing games and watching Netflix or drawing. I do understand that tablets are good for the environment in the fact that they save paper, yet tablets are not so helpful in our learning environment when students use it for non-educational purposes. Moreover, even if they do weigh less than textbooks, tablets are not good for our health because it causes eye strain. As an art major who takes digital media and works on the computer for two periods every day, I know the pain the digital screen induces on our eyes. It's excruciating. With that said, it would be best if apple or samsung came out with a tablet or iPad that can solely be used for academics. If that were the case, schools should definitely spend their money on them.

[3rpamela]

In my case, I argue that we should be allowed to have both. Textbooks should be kept at home just in case anything happens to the tablet. However, I agree 100% with the idea that as students we should carry a tablet rather than all those textbooks. Ever since I started High School, I began to have many painful back pains due to the weight of my bookbag. I had many books and notebooks to take home every night, and it became very tiring at one point. Therefore, I completely understand why one might be against textbooks. Not only that but everyday we seem to get more dependent on technology, so carrying a tablet wouldn't be a bad idea. However, only for educational purposes as others were saying.

[3smonica]

In my opinion students cannot completely rely on tablets and i pads because its technology. Technology is never to be fully trusted, there are far too many ways for students to be destracted and not doing their work in class because they found the schools wifi and they use it in class instead of actually paying attention. And yes i pads and tablets are very expensive so students should buy the device themselves not have the school buy it for them. Although now tablets are allowed in classrooms but phones are still being taken away.... the technology and rules of schools do not make sense. i think tablets can be easily broken and damaged and then a students work can be very easily erased or deleted. Then the student will be empty handed and stuck with nothing. In my opinion not everything should be done electronically and for now highschool should stay old fashioned and on paper.

[6bnoah]

I personally have been struggling with organizing the piles of paper I receive every day in all my classes. I frequently lose handouts, accidentally crumple or rip pages in folders, or decide to not take notes rather than attempt to open my overflowing binder. As the school year has gone on, the problem has grown increasingly worse. I haven't, however, made the switch to the tablet because I think I'd be easily distracted and I would still have to carry around my physical notes from the rest of the year.

I think that tablets are unparallel in the organization, efficiency, and simplicity that they afford students. The distracting nature of a screen, however, is a major problem. In terms of the environment, conserving paper is always important, but the impact of manufacturing tablets also has major environmental repercussions. The chemicals, factories, and extraction of raw materials from the earth needed to create a single iPad are definitely not environmentally sustainable methods.

I think that it is ultimately a personal decision of which works best for you. Neither is inherently better, and each choice has pros and cons.

[10pisabelle]

I feel that students should be able to decide whether they want to use a tablet at school. Tablets are much easier to carry, and help with conserving paper. If a student feels that she/he works better without a tablet, that's fine too. Tablets eliminate the amount of books students need to carry to school. This can help with the back pains many experience having to carry notebooks and textbooks with them. I also believe that it is easier to stay organized with a tablet, rather than having paper falling out from notebooks, and being able to read the notes you took. Teachers do hold to right to check on what you're using the tablet for, so it's necessary to use tablets for educational purposes only. Textbooks however should stay at home because of the difficulties with bringing them to school. I feel that textbooks are being used more for homework purposes, and that's fine; but for some exceptional classes teachers are requiring that students bring their textbooks to school with them on a daily basis. Even bringing one textbook to school with additional notebooks and folders can be heavy, so may students have resorted to using tablets. This way students eliminate extra weight with tablets if they find that they are carrying too much.

[10tjustine]

While some may argue that tablets prevent learning, I personally find that the pros outweigh the cons in all educational aspects. Taking notes on an iPad is the same as writing an essay on a computer. If one cannot focus and write a successful essay on a computer without becoming distracted, then they should not attempt to use a tablet for notes in the classroom. Moreover, not every single student will abuse their privilege of being allowed to use a tablet in the classroom with apps such as Netflix. But in all honesty, while you can claim the distractions of a tablet will prevent notes, a paper and a pen doesn’t guarantee notes either.
I truly believe that a tablet in the classroom is one of the best tools a student can have. Some apps allow students to reach great levels of organization that are easily maintainable. One app, called Notability, allows for multiple different folder tabs so each subject can have its own area and textbook pdfs can be downloaded from the Internet to refer to in class. For these reasons alone, tablets can only benefit a student by giving them the knowledge to participate more or the opportunity to finish hws more efficiently during a free.

[6gzelda]

I think whether or not a tablet is helpful is completely dependent on the person but for me, personally I find notebooks are much better. I can see how some people would rather have a tablet, less to carry, less work to type rather than write it out, save paper and pens. However, I find that writing something down helps me to remember it much better than typing it. I also find notebooks easier to organize and to study with. It also creates less problems if your computer or tablet were to crash you would have lost all of your notes. Many teachers prefer to not let kids have a tablet which I completely understand, where as other teachers allow them to have it or not. I feel there should be no rule as to whether you can or can't but it should be up to the student and their personal preference.

[6hkaterina]

The use of tablets instead of books in school is something that many students take for granted. My cousin's school (in Long Island, not the city) gives iPads to students during their 3 years of middle school. These iPads are incapable of downloading unnecessary apps (games, social media, etc.) and are incapable of accessing sites that are useless to school. With strict rules on these tablets, it is very easy to guarantee that the tablets have an immense amount of pros and no cons. It allows for an easier way to do schoolwork, and helps the weight on student's backs lessen.

[6mmichael]

While I agree with Sofia's point I think that there would have to be more trust between the teachers and students. It is easy to assume the worst out of teenagers and technology however I have also seen firsthand, as so has Annalise the benefits of the tablet in school. I have considered using a tablets because my friends at school informed me that you become much more organized as a pupil and it is easier to locate your sources and study rather than stuffing papers in your bag that weigh you down throughout the day. I feel that this is an incredible way to learn and it should not be turned down simply because a couple of students decided to rebel and be lazy.

[10cvictoria]

I think the use of tablets and computers in high school prepare students for a college level education. Tablets and computers hold unlimited amounts of information that help students throughout the school day. Moreover, it is easier to organize oneself on one device rather than in multiple notebooks and binders. As a student who travels a lot and misses weeks of school at a time, having one device that can keep me updated on school while not being in the classroom is extremely beneficial. Furthermore, I think the worry of students being immature with the privilege of having these technologies is unwarranted. By high school it should be expected that students have enough maturity to be diligent and responsible with their studies. Students that are not responsible will suffer from their decisions.