Last Updated on: 24th October 2022, 01:18 pm

Education and technology are flip sides of a coin, which keep on progressing. The recent pandemic has made our education entirely dependent on technology. The technologies like tablets, smartphones, and laptops have proved themselves valuable tools for education. However, it might have raised some concerns. Similarly, can tablets replace textbooks and these laptops can take the place of classrooms, been a debate doing rounds for a while now.

Educational institutions are expanding the usage of technology with every passing day. The increasing use of tablets and laptops in classroom settings has lessened the burden on parents to spend a hefty sum of money on textbooks and stationery supplies. Apart from financial constraints, they are versatile and increase the productivity of students.

Is Tablet Better Than a Textbook?

Is Tablet Better Than a Textbook

The comparison between a tablet and a textbook already seems very obsolete. Tablet may concern people who are a bit old school but it is a representation of a futuristic mindset. The books on tablets provide students with an abundant amount of data and information with one tap of their fingertips. Textbooks on the other hand can require a lot of time and effort from students, which can drain their motivation.

Extensive Resources of Tablets:

The sky is the limit if it comes to the resourcefulness of tablets. Literally, a tablet can carry an infinite number of e-books, home works, and files which is impossible for a person to physically handle with textbooks. The latest tablets can carry up to 512GB of data in their storage furthermore it can be increased by using an external SD card. The up-to-date information provided by a tablet has no comparison with the old editions of textbooks being taught in our schools for generations.

Cost-effectiveness of Tablets:

The concept of tablets’ usage for educational purposes is relatively new. When parents visit markets to buy a tablet for their kids the prices of tablets may seem very overwhelming but they should think of them as a future long-term investment. The cost of new editions and updated versions of e-books are a lot cheaper than printed textbooks. Students who have their tablets tend to develop more reading habits due to the availability of plentiful e-content.

Practically Note Taking Tablets:

Tablets may serve a lot of purposes for students such as preparing presentations and submitting home works and assignments. Note-taking is also one of the most significant features of tablets. Students can carry lightweight tablets everywhere with them now, even to their classes. They could take important notes of their teacher’s lectures as well as highlight the relevant details with the help of these tablets. Instead of filling up bulky notebooks with every detail of lectures which may get lost at the time of need, students can now use tablets and easily search for that information.

Digital Student-Teacher Interaction Medium

Tablets and textbooks both are considered to be tools for improving students’ learning. They might help students to obtain necessary information for education but the main source of knowledge will always be a teacher. As Bill Gates has mentioned, “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”

Teachers play the role of mentors in this modern age as the internet is full of heaps of data and they have to point students in the right direction to achieve better academic performance. Similarly, tablets ensure seamless student-teacher interaction on a personal level. This interaction increases students’ growth as they are continuously in contact with the teacher. Teachers by using these tablets or tablet-laptops can also make an individualized plan for students as well to study with their full interest and at their own pace.

Improved Academic Performance through Tablets:

Education might require a lot of hard work but if done right it could be fun. The use of tablets instead of textbooks in institutions has increased the interest of students to learn more innovatively. The creativity of teachers to use videos, podcasts, and various media to explain different concepts to students has definitely enlightened them. Students actively participate in class to share their own perspectives through the use of tablets as it has broadened their horizons. This will produce a more learned and confident next generation.

Negatives of Integrating Tablets in Education:

Negatives of Integrating Tablets in Education
Tablets may prove to be an exceptional tool in facilitating students with improved academic performance but it does have some downsides as well.

Effects on Health:

Though technology is the future it has posed threat to the physical and mental health of children. They might suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome which results in headaches and blurred vision. It might put a strain on the muscles of the neck and shoulder. The distractive nature of tablets can affect studies and often result in loss of attention span for students as well.

Unaffordable for All Students:

The increased implementation of tablets in our institutions has put a huge divide in institutions as students belonging to poorer families cannot afford these high-tech gadgets. Even if they could buy a tablet they won’t survive because they could not afford a stable internet connection in their homes and eventually fail to complete home-based assignments. This will also lower their self-esteem and adversely impact their studies.

Insecurity of Tablets:

Textbooks in printed forms are more secure as they cannot be hacked or crashed. So, they can be passed down to generations to study. Similarly, it cannot be corrupted by any sort of virus, unlike tablets where your information is not even safe. The tablets can be broken, stolen, or lost easily which is quite alarming. As broken tablets require a lot of money and an experienced technician to repair whereas textbooks only require glue or binding tape. Anyways a lost tablet can cost a lot more than a lost textbook which can put a huge strain on a parent’s budget.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

FAQs - Can Tablets Replace Textbooks

Are Tablets Environment-Friendly?

As tablets are replacing textbooks, which means it will impact the production of paper as well. Paper production costs our environment with the loss of trees. That is an expensive and time-consuming process as well. The usage of tablets by students also helps teachers as they no longer need printed handouts and assignments. As a result, they save our environment and a huge amount of money. So, tablets are contributing to saving the environment.

Are tablets a mere distraction for students?

Tablets are a powerful tool in terms of education. They supply them with information, quizzes, assignments, and a pool of knowledge. So, it is less of a distraction and more of an attraction for students.

Is the battery timing of an average tablet less than the length of a school day?

There have been various improvements in tablets and an increase in the battery life is one of them. The newer versions of tablets can last up to 14 hours, so they can survive the length of a whole day at school.

Can parents monitor the activity of their children on tablets?

Nowadays tablets come with this inbuilt feature of parental control which allows parents to observe and adjust the activity of their children according to their age limits otherwise they could end up with severe consequences.

How can tablets make learning fun and easy?

The latest tablets can be an easy and fun source of learning for kids as well as adults due to their intuitive nature. It can improve the attention and motivation of students through videos, interactive games, podcasts, and media as well.

What are the best tablets for school?

Schools are using tablets as an alternative to school laptops because they are packed with software to facilitate students yet they are sleek and easier to carry. The few best tablets for school are Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Fire 7 Kids Edition, and Apple iPad mini.

Conclusion – Can Tablets Replace Textbooks?

The debate on tablets vs textbooks will continue until textbooks become redundant. However, tablets have become an essential tool for the learning and motivation of students simultaneously.

Students prefer a more innovative and imaginative method of teaching designed to their personal interests and pace. So, incorporating technologies like tablets and laptops in education can make us hopeful for a better future.